Millwood, OK – The close‑knit community of Millwood is grieving after Jaheir Booker, an 11‑year‑old fifth‑grader, collapsed and was pronounced dead during a routine middle‑school football practice on Thursday.

School officials describe the incident

Superintendent Cecilia Robinson‑Woods said the practice was proceeding normally when coaches noticed Booker’s distress. “It was during a middle school football practice. Our coaches responded first and initiated a heat‑related response, even though yesterday was a pretty cool day,” Robinson‑Woods explained.

Medical personnel were called immediately, and Booker was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. The superintendent praised the coaches for following emergency protocol, noting the difficulty of coping with such a loss.

Support for students and families

Robinson‑Woods emphasized the emotional toll on both the coaches and the student body. “For any child, it’s a lot to witness something like that. I can’t thank the coaches enough for responding the way they did. They’re living with having to go through that, thinking, ‘You should’ve done more,’ but not knowing what more you could do,” she said.

Grief counselors have been on site throughout the day to provide support to students, teachers, and staff. “Our prayers and thoughts go out to the family, and we’re reaching out to support them in any way we can,” Robinson‑Woods added.

Remembering Jaheir

Jaheir had been a Millwood student since he was four years old and was remembered by peers and teachers as an outgoing, thoughtful child who was loved by many. The community has rallied around his family, offering prayers, thoughts, and assistance during this heartbreaking time.

Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.