Jacksboro loses another teen

Jacksboro is mourning the loss of yet another student — the third in less than two months.

Trey Pruitt, 17, was found dead at his home Monday afternoon. He had stayed home from school that day.

Jack County Sheriff Tom Spurlock said paramedics were dispatched to the Pruitt home at 2:38 p.m. and upon arrival determined he was deceased. Justice of the Peace Stacy Spurlock performed an investigation to determine the cause of death. The cause has not been confirmed and the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office will perform an autopsy. 

Spurlock said he does not suspect any foul play.

“Without an autopsy, it’s really hard to say (the cause),” Spurlock said. “With the toxicology report, it may take a month to get the information back.”

Tuesday afternoon, Jacksboro High School Principal Brad Burnett was preparing for another memorial service.

“We’re going to do our best to honor him and help our students heal again,” he said.

Pruitt was a member of the varsity football and baseball teams. He was also involved in the school’s ag mechanics program.

“Trey was very talented as far as welding, metal work, metal fabrication, a good athlete, a great personality. a young man everybody enjoyed being around, a pleasant young man,” Burnett said.

Students started the school day with an assembly in the gym.

“We acknowledged that we had to deal with another tragic loss of a student, acknowledged his passing and offered support,” Burnett said. “We had several pastors and youth leaders, law enforcement, Jacksboro Police and the Jack County Sheriff’s Department and reassured the students that people were there to support them and help them through the grieving process."

The ag department provided a metal cutout of Trey’s name out and placed it for students to sign. Burnett said it will be presented to his family at an appropriate time.

“We offered support to students and staff. We have a lot of staff members grieving — coaches, ag teachers that spent a lot of time with him. They’re having to relive a lot of emotions that they dealt with with Johnny’s death. It’s too soon honestly for students and staff to have to deal with another tragic loss of a student’s life.” 

Jacksboro Middle School student Savannah Seeds, 15, was killed when struck by a car on Nov. 20 while walking in the 2100 block of North Main. Just six days later, 17-year-old Johnny Callan died Nov. 26 from injuries in a wreck south of Mineral Wells on his way to an FFA livestock show in Waco.

The high school will host a candlelight vigil at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the gym to honor Trey’s memory. Tonight’s basketball games have been rescheduled for Thursday beginning at 4 p.m.

“We feel like it’s important that we honor Trey’s memory he was an important student here at Jacksboro High School. We want to give our community an opportunity to celebrate his life and recognize what he meant to our students, staff and faculty and to the greater community,” Burnett said.

“He was well-liked, respected by his teammates. He wasn’t perfect by any means, I had to get on to him for just being a typical teenager but he was respectful, a happy-go-lucky kid and everyone enjoyed his company. He definitely will be missed.”

Visitation will be at 5 p.m. Thursday at Coker Funeral Home in Jacksboro.

There will be a Celebration of his Life at 10 a.m. Friday at Bible Baptist Church with B.J. Nunley officiating and burial to follow at Gibtown Cemetery.