Family and friends remember 14-year-old Leo Vann who drowned off Long Beach.

LONG BEACH, N.Y. On Long Island, a community is in mourning after a young boy drowned in Reynolds Channel off Long Beach in Nassau County.

[beachdg5]

I worked at Lido Elementary in the cafeteria when Leo attended there. He was a very polite and pleasant boy. It just so tragic for something like this to happen to such a good kid. My heart goes out to his mom and his family. My prayers are with them.

[Fabio Munoz]

Leo I Love You My Dude.You WEre Just Like a Brother. We Had So Many Good Times. I Hope YOur Looking Down At Me. Rest In Peace.

[Javon Price]

i really cant believe my man leo died. he was like a brother to me and i still cant believe he is gone. imma miss you leo nd ill see you soon real soon. r.i.p. leo patrick vann.

[MARtHA PARlER]

well let me start off with leo i miss you so much i wish you was still here like if only they would have jumped in the water in time you would still be here i lovee you && miss you.. && to the so called cops yall say yall did a great job yeah riqht yall aint do nothinqq because if you would of maybe he would still be here && i think yall dont have the riqhtt to say yall did some thinqq good..well thats all i have to say for now i'll be back aqain..

leo i lovee you && missz you..!

tEAM[2]l0OSE

martha parler a.k.a mimi outtie..!

[Long Beach MOM]

This goes to Leo's mom,dad family and all friends . The whole community is mourning over Leo who was a great person,caring,loving and i can go on and on . There is no words that can help,in this situation .I HAVE BEEN CRYING FOR DAYS ,and my daughter as well.
But what i can say is we WILL make LONG BEACH OPEN
THERE EYES and fix and do what they need to do so this will never happen again. I will be at every town meeting fighting until they do something about it! we love you LEO VANN RIP LOOK DOWN ON US ALL and skateboard in heaven!

[RIP LEO VANN]

The whole community is mourning over Leo Vann. He was an exceptional kid..warm, kind, humble, joyful, funny and I too can go on and on. Leo's death was not in vain the citizens of Long Beach will make sure that what happened to Leo does not happen again. The meeting yesterday was just the beginning. I agree with Long Beach MOM we will all fight until something is done to improve the emergency team reaction to a situation like Leo's. RIP LEO...Smile on!!

[Andrei M]

Damn Leo, R.I.P., he was one of the nicest kids i ever knew in Long Beach. i was just skating with him the week before he died, and we hung out a lot during the school year. I deserve to die more than him man, the kid did not deserve it. He was smart and chill unlike other lb kids.

I'm working on getting RIP Leo Vann shirts right now for a couple of people including his parents and his closest friends

[DJB LBCanals]

The first time I met Leo, he and some other boys were hanging at my house with my daughter with some other girls. I pull up in the car and the boys jump up and help me unload the car! After that I often saw Leo and Mike playing basketball and skate boarding at East School. I would tap my horn to say "Hi" and I would always get a big smile and a wave. Leo had a great smile! My heart goes out to his family. I will pray for all of you.

[Pat LB Mom]

Words can't express the pain and sorrow I feel for Leo's Mom,Dad and family. As a parent it is you worst nightmare. As a friend it is a unbelieveable loss. Let's all remember the wonderful person Leo was by keeping his memory alive in our hearts and mind. R.I.P. Leo

[RIP LEO VANN]

Stepfone wrote:

He was a nice guy, but maybe if he wasn't smoking a pound of weed a day he would have had the sense not to jump in with his shoes and pants...
Another death attributed to Long Beach pot smoking. Maybe now that dump of a high school will acknowledge the pot problem and bring dogs into the schools.
If this guy wasn't such a major pothead he'd be alive today.

Pertaining to Leo's death and actions you are ill informed.
If you are so concerned about the "Pot Problem" I think you should address the Long Beach High School or Long Beach School District. Addressing mourning distressed children in such a negative way won't set forth change in the Long Beach drug community. RIP Leo.

[RIP LEO VANN]

Stepfone wrote:

Aww, it's negative, so children shouldn't hear it?
Smoking pot killed this guy!
I think if "children," as you call them, knew their friend died because he was too stoned to swim, they may think twice before they let weed ruin their lives.
You're real intelligent. We'll hide this from them. Yea, that works.

As I stated before, you are ill informed about Leo's actions that day and his character.

You have not read the autopsy or police report, hence you can not judge him or the incident.

You are real intelligent, you are basing your opinion on rumors.

Nothing is being hidden from the kids. If your purpose on this forum is to educate them on drugs and safety then you are going about it the wrong way.

You are being very negative. Children nor adults learn through negative comments or actions. Thank you for your attempts to teach them something but they have caring parents and teachers that are teaching them the aforementioned with love and kindness.

RIP LEO

[rip leo]

dag i can bleave leos gone like for real man he waz a gud kid and a nice person he waz nice to everybody leo we r goin 2 miss u man R.I.P leo
love you

[RIP LEO]

Stepfone wrote:

Yep, read the autopsy report and share it with the kids you want to gently educate.
It says he was full of marijuana. Huge amounts. Affected his judgment, perhaps?
Let the kids in Long Beach know the truth. Then maybe some good will come of this.
In the meantime, let God have mercy on his soul and the soul of the others you are trying to keep in the dark about the danger of his drug abuse.

If you are so concerned about "marijuana" and "drug use" please stop hiding behind your computer screen and come into the community. Reach out to the schools and the teen centers. Reach out to the parents and the government officials. Someone with your tenacity should not type away their great ideas in a forum frequented by teens. You should get out and relate your ideas to adults. While you are at it you can explain how you were able to read the autopsy report. Why don't you do that? Isn't that more effective? Oh no!!!!! of course you can't do that!!!! You aren't honest, positive, caring or kind. You don't even posses good communication skills; At least that is what I gather from your posts. You don't know how to touch, move and/or change people. Someone like you has to sit behind a screen and write nonsense. As I suggested before, the kids have adults that are honest, caring and loving to help guide them. Nevertheless we thank you for your effort. RIP LEO

PS. Your posts haven't diminished the fact that Leo was phenomenal and will always be missed and loved.

[LB Mom and Teacher]

Leo Vann was a wonderful, smart, smiling, caring individual. Everyone should remember that. He had a smile that could light up a room. I know. Everyday I saw his smiling face in school and I will miss it forever.
I will pray for him and his family and I hope everyone will remember Leo for how he lived his life!

[RIP LEO]

Stepfone wrote:

Yes he was was phenomenal and will always be missed and loved. He was a friend to many who had few friends and a truly kind soul.
But his drug abuse killed him.
It's unfortunate that people like you continue to hide the truths that drugs destroy young lives right in their own backyards.
Those truths aren't warm and fuzzy and nice, as you prefer, but they may save your own kid's life.

How could you pass judgement on anything that is being discussed in this forum....You haven't stated a single fact because you don't know anything. You contradict your ideas/opinions. You are ridiculous enough to state that you read the autopsy report. Leo did not pass away due to drug consumption. You shouldn't lie, specially not about a child's death. All my posts are based on facts. My opinions on Leo's character are validated by everyone else that knew him. Shame on you for lying. You can hide behind your screen but There is a higher power above that sees all. Enjoy your weekend. RIP LEO

[tasiaha]

leo its so sad that your gone we all miss you
r.i.p. leo vann

[katie]

John wrote:

The word is out that there will be arrests in this case. It appears that his friends who supplied him with the drugs and others who are rampaging the neighborhood are going down on felony drug charges and assault.
Nice people. They killed him.

oh boy thats how rumors start,untrue check your facts before posting this please

[knsmom]

Stepfone wrote:

He was a nice guy, but maybe if he wasn't smoking a pound of weed a day he would have had the sense not to jump in with his shoes and pants...
Another death attributed to Long Beach pot smoking. Maybe now that dump of a high school will acknowledge the pot problem and bring dogs into the schools.
If this guy wasn't such a major pothead he'd be alive today.

should we really go there?get your facts in order

[knsmom]

Stepfone wrote:

Yep, read the autopsy report and share it with the kids you want to gently educate.
It says he was full of marijuana. Huge amounts. Affected his judgment, perhaps?
Let the kids in Long Beach know the truth. Then maybe some good will come of this.
In the meantime, let God have mercy on his soul and the soul of the others you are trying to keep in the dark about the danger of his drug abuse.

yes you read the autopsy,please

[knsmom]

Stepfone wrote:

He was a nice guy, but maybe if he wasn't smoking a pound of weed a day he would have had the sense not to jump in with his shoes and pants...
Another death attributed to Long Beach pot smoking. Maybe now that dump of a high school will acknowledge the pot problem and bring dogs into the schools.
If this guy wasn't such a major pothead he'd be alive today.

moron he didnt have shoes or pants please stop flapping your mouth you should be ashamed of your self let yhe people mourn