The names of the two, teenage Bayonne brothers who tragically drowned in the Lincoln Community School pool earlier this week have been released. One is a junior at Bayonne High School, while his brother graduated from BHS last year.
16-year old Jack Jiang and 19-year old Chu Ming Zheng were in the deep end of the swimming pool being monitored by three lifeguards when they were spotted in distress according to Bayonne Police. It should be noted that the Police Department did not release the names of the victims. Their names were confirmed by the Board of Education and the Mayor’s Office.
According to a report by WNBC News 4 New York, the teenagers drowned in a dive pool which closed, not in the swimming pool which was being watched by lifeguards.
Superintendent of Schools John Niesz, in a letter to the community on Thursday updated the situation, saying with the family’s blessing, “We would like to start a fundraiser on behalf of the Zheng & Jiang family. While we will continue to respect the family’s privacy, we are accepting gift card donations to help the family.”
Anyone wishing to donate gift cards, may visit the Korpi Ice Rink today, Friday, June 10 between 3 and 8 pm; tomorrow and Sunday, between 9 am and 5 pm or on Monday, June 13 between 3 and 8 pm.
The incident is being investigated by the Bayonne Police Department, the Bayonne Board of Education, the school insurance carrier, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Niesz adds that the school district is also hiring an independent source to investigate the drowning.