‘The best kid you could have ever asked for:’ Tears shed at candlelight vigil for Wagner H.S. alum, 19, killed in construction-related incident

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Dozens gathered at Susan E. Wagner High School on Wednesday afternoon to pay tribute to Ommatt Cruz, 19, an alumnus and beloved former member of the school’s football team who died last Friday in a construction-related incident in Manhattan.

Candles were lit and tears were shed at dismissal as Wagner students and staff turned out to honor their teammate and classmate by releasing hundreds of white balloons that were carried away on the wind high above the Seaview school. Crowded tightly in front of the football field fence, many in attendance spilled out onto Brielle Avenue.

Cruz’s mother led the crowd in prayer and offered a brief remembrance of her son, thanking those who turned out and sharing hugs with many current and past members of the Wagner Falcons football squad. Uniformed team members could be seen holding up their fists in solidarity before breaking their huddle with a simple shout of: “We love you, Cruz!”

“We were teammates; we were brothers,” alumnus Rafael Peña said. “We played together; we did everything together. It just hurts to see him go. We were on defense, so making plays with (Cruz)was always great. When we traveled to play upstate, he had a great play where he just laid an opposing player out. That’s why he was called ‘The Dog.’”

Alumnus Christian Kistie said Cruz was, “the best kid you could have ever asked for,” Adding that his teammate was the kind of player and person who’d be willing to drop what he was doing to help a friend in need.

“If I needed help with anything, whether it was changing a tire, or backing me up in a fight, who am I calling? I’m calling Ommatt Cruz,” Kistie said. “He was one of those guys that, once he’s with you, he’s with you forever.”