Kindergartner dies shortly after arriving at school

ByWill Jones WLS logo
Saturday, February 27, 2016
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CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Peterson Elementary School community is in mourning after a kindergartener died shortly after arriving at school Friday morning, school officials say.

The Cook County medical examiner identified the child as 5-year-old Ailyn Rubio. The medical examiner did not say how she died, but the Department of Child and Family Services is not investigating.

In a letter sent home to parents, school officials shared the gut-wrenching news.

"The student arrived to school this morning in a distressed state," the letter said. "We immediately contact emergency personnel and the student was taken to the hospital. Tragically, despite the best efforts of all involved, the child passed away. This is an absolutely enormous tragedy that will greatly affect the Peterson community."

Grief counselors were called into help students cope. School officials cancelled all evening activities due to the tragedy.

Parents of kindergartners were invited to the school to be with their children. The school confirmed Rubio has a sibling that attends there as well.