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| Updated: 7/26/2012 9:55 am |
Published: 7/25/2012 11:46 pm |
MALVERN, AR - Hundreds of Malvern High School students, parents, teachers and faculty came out to a candlelight vigil for former Leopards football player, 19 year old James King.
King is believed to have drowned in Lake Catherine Monday night. Garland County search and rescue crews have been using sonar equipment and divers to look for King, but so far have come up with nothing.
Wednesday night people brought balloons, flowers, candles and posters to the football field at Malvern High School where King made his mark. He went on to play for Southern Arkansas University last season and planned to attend the University of Central Arkansas in the fall.
The candlelight vigil was a way for the Malvern community to come together, support one another, and pray that searchers recover King’s body.
Tyler Haiber says King was a great person, and the entire community is going through a difficult time dealing with his lose. “He was teammate, a classmate, a friend, a family member and well liked by everyone.”
Erica Barkley says news of his drowning is a shock for all the students who went to school with him. “He was well known by everybody, and people looked up to him. He was a super star.” Barkley says the vigil is a way to support the family and let them know the entire community is sending all their love and prayers their way.
Briseton Barnes says no one is ready to give up finding King. He says he hopes the recovery of his body will help ease people’s broken hearts. “James always called me Smiley, so I’ve got to keep on smiling for him.”
Garland County search and rescue teams will resume the search for King Thursday morning.
There is a memorial fund set up at Farmers Bank & Trust in James King’s name to help the family pay for funeral expenses. Malvern National Bank has a scholarship fund set up in James King’s name.
