Twelve-year-old Melquan Kwame Robinson died Monday after being electrocuted while climbing a chain-link fence at Fleming Athletic Complex in Augusta, Georgia. He had been attending football practice when a ball went over the fence, which had become energized by a live electrical wire.

Two boys who tried to pull Melquan from the fence were also shocked and hospitalized. One, David Sette, had improved enough to move from intensive care to a regular hospital room, although doctors remained concerned about his blood levels and muscle breakdown. An adult was also injured. Deputies performed chest compressions on Melquan before an ambulance took him to Children’s Hospital of Georgia, where he was pronounced dead at 9:56 p.m.

Melquan was a seventh-grader at Morgan Road Middle School and a member of the Trinity Elite Titans football team. His former coach and family friend Don Clark described him as energetic, athletic and passionate about sports, with dreams of becoming a professional athlete. Clark said Melquan was protective of his two younger siblings and remembered his smile. The Titans mourned him in a public statement, while the school system provided additional support to students and staff.

The death left Melquan’s family, friends, teammates and the wider community grieving. Clark, speaking for the family, praised the courage of the boys who tried to save their friend. Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis offered condolences and urged residents to support the family. A community vigil was planned for Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Bernie Ward Community Center, and football activities at Fleming Park were canceled for the week.

The coroner’s office, sheriff’s office and city began investigations, including an examination of the wire that energized the fence. Georgia Power said it was cooperating with local officials and that its preliminary investigation indicated the company did not control or maintain the voltage that energized the fences.