Friends and family were reeling from the loss of Romeo Elias Alvarez on Wednesday.
The 18-year-old was found dead about 24 hours after he was reported missing by his mother, Selena Preciado, who hadn’t heard back from him after a family party, according to family friend Andrea Varelas.
Around 3 a.m. on Tuesday, a concerned person flagged down Chandler police officials near Arizona Avenue and Ray Road to request they check out a garage in an apartment complex nearby.
Upon opening the garage, a patrol officer discovered Alvarez and a 17-year-old male dead inside. Police did not identify the second teen.
The preliminary investigation suggested that their deaths were accidental.
“Our dear sweet Romeo has unexpectedly parted from us,” Varelas wrote on a GoFundMe she set up Tuesday, sharing Alvarez’s untimely passing and upcoming funeral services.
“He was a bright young man who had his whole life ahead of him,” Varelas said.
Alvarez’s aunt had called Varelas on Tuesday morning to tell Valeras he had been found.