Student stabbed at Coral Gables High laid to rest

MIAMI (WSVN) -- Members of a South Florida community gathered to say their final farewells to a teen killed at school.

Seventeen-year-old Juan Carlos Rivera was laid to rest exactly a week after a fellow student stabbed him to death at Coral Gables Senior High School, Tuesday morning.

Rivera's funeral occurred at La Nacional Funeral Home at 10 a.m. and his body was interred at the Flagler Memorial Cemetery at 5301 W. Flagler St.

The teen's parents arrived from overseas-- the father from Spain and the mother from Cuba-- to attend the funeral and an outpouring of support from family, friends of the student and members of the community who never had the chance to meet Rivera.

Among the supports was another South Florida family who knows all too well with what they're dealing with. Jorge Gough's son, Jaime, was stabbed and killed in a bathroom at Southwood Middle School by another classmate back in 2004. "We are here to give our support and our condolences to the family because it brings back memories for us too, and we want to be there for them, for the mom and the dad and for the whole community."

A group of mothers also paid their respects at the funeral. They also extended a monetary donation to help pay for the teen's funeral.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools has also coordinated a fund raising effort to help pay for Rivera's funeral expenses and the needs of the family. Those who would like to contribute can send a check, made payable to "The Foundation for New Education Initiatives, Inc." and mail it to:

Miami-Dade County Public Schools
1450 NE 2nd Ave., Suite 931
Miami, FL 33132

Please specify "for funeral arrangements and family needs" on the check.

People may also donate on-line by clicking on: www.giveourstudentstheworld.org. Please specify "for funeral arrangements and family needs."

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