Teammate of nation’s top recruit stabbed to death hours after game
Throughout the 2013 season the attention at Woodbridge High (Woodbridge, Va.) had focused on DaShawn Hand, the number 1 overall Rivals.com prospect. Things changed drastically on Saturday, when one of Hand's classmates was the tragic victim of a horrific attack in a public park.
As reported by the Washington Post, 18-year-old linebacker Kenny Diaz was stabbed to death at Marumsco Acre Lake Park in Woodbridge on Saturday afternoon, hours after he had competed on the field for Woodbridge High. Police had been called to the scene on the report of a stabbing victim, discovered Diaz and immediately transported him to a local hospital. He died shortly thereafter.
It is uncertain precisely how long Diaz had been in the park after being stabbed before police arrived, but early reports have indicated that the stabbing "does not appear to be random."
The senior linebacker was remembered by friends as a kind and thoughtful teen who was notably religious.
"Whenever someone swore to God, he’d always say, 'Don’t take God’s name in vain,'" Woodbridge student Melissa Leassear told the Post.
Needless to say, the Woodbridge community has been thrust into shock and sadness as it attempts to come to grips with the tragic and senseless loss of one of its most well-known sons.
"I can’t believe our school here at Woodbridge has lost a young man in such a way," Woodbridge football coach Karibi Dede told the Post. "[Diaz's family] is our family. We have to make sure we are mindful and prayerful and that we help them in any way we can.
"[The Woodbridge players are pretty shaken up, pretty upset about it. Obviously, there are no easy words or answers for them at this point."
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