Athlete Remembered As Leader

School officials said that they think Dominique Johnson, a sophomore, suffered an asthma attack. In Pemberton Township, N.J., the 15-year-old high school student died Monday during what coaches called a light football practice.

"The only thing he thought about this year was getting a letter in varsity. 'Dad, I'm going to get my letter as a sophomore,'" Tyrone Johnson remembered.

Last year, Dominique was the captain of the freshman defensive team. Monday, as a sophomore, he was in a practice session at school.

People who were there said that he complained of a tightness in his chest and that he used his asthma inhaler. Later, cardiopulmonary resuscitation proved fruitless and he died at a Mt. Holly hospital just an hour-and-a-half after he began fighting for breath.

Dominique's friends described him as bright, smart, popular and a rising star.

"Everybody misses him. Like today in the hallway. (Usually when you) walk through our hallway, it is so loud and noisy. It was so silent today. Everybody was crying," said student Matt Sorrentino.

"Dominique Johnson was an All-American young man. He was an academic student. He was a leader on the sports field," said Dr. Robert Height, the principal of Pemberton High School.

"Everybody loved him. He was nice to everybody. He had no problems with nobody. He was just the nicest boy in school," remembered sophomore Alexis Rivera.

"I lost my son. I'm very empty right now. I don't have anything in my heart right now, and to tell you the truth I'm mad at God for taking him. You know, (I) still love God, still believe in him, but I'm mad at him for taking (my son)," said Tyrone Johnson. "You got other kids out here selling drugs, robbing people and (God's) giving him another day to live. My son didn't do anything. He just wanted to go to school, play sports, come home, go play more sports."

Administrators have called in bereavement counselors for the students and staff.

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