A 12-year-old boy from DC drowns while swimming in Virginia Beach

A D.C. middle school community is in sorrow following the loss of one of its classmates.

Principal Marlene Magrino informed students and parents of the loss of rising eighth-grader Zamari Wilson in a letter delivered to Eliot-Hine Middle School families.

The 12-year-old went lost while swimming off the shore of Virginia Beach and was discovered dead on Sunday afternoon by authorities.

Boats, divers, and at least one aircraft aided in the search for Wilson, who was last seen by his family in the water at about 10:30 a.m., according to local news sites. The Virginia Marine Resources Commission and the United States Coast Guard also assisted in the search.

Virginia Beach police said he was in town with his family for the holiday weekend.

His principal praised Zamari as “a young man with a promising future.” He was a superb musician and artist. His professors expressed how much fun he was to have in class.