Family vows to hunt justice for 9-year-old boy who drowned at swim camp

RICHMOND, Va. — Hundreds gathered Saturday at Fifth Street Baptist Church in Richmond for the homegoing service of King Overton, the 9-year-old boy who drowned whereas attending his first day of swim camp in Henrico.

On Monday, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner decided King died by unintentional drowning at SwimRVA-North, a nonprofit group devoted to swimming and water security.

As his household laid him to relaxation, these near him vowed to proceed preventing for accountability and legislative change.

Keila Bellamy, a household advocate for King, mentioned the sight of a kid in a casket made the stakes unimaginable to disregard.

“[He] drowned while under the supervision of adults. It is devastating,” Bellamy mentioned.

Bellamy mentioned the household is pushed by grief and a willpower to make sure King’s loss of life results in change.

“It’s like dancing between grief and anger because this is something that should not have happened,” Bellamy mentioned.

She mentioned the household intends to pursue accountability from these accountable.

“This was preventable. This was a child,” Bellamy mentioned. “We will seek justice for King, and he will get it…”

RELATED: He liked bikes. So 600 RVA riders strapped teddy bears to their bikes in his honor

He liked bikes. So 600 RVA riders strapped teddy bears to their bikes in his honor

Bellamy beforehand instructed WTVR CBS 6 that the timeline surrounding King’s loss of life has left his mom with unanswered questions.

“King was in group two, and so group two went swimming from 1:15 to 2:15. He was pulled unresponsive from the pool at around 2:34. She said when she saw him, he was full of water. She doesn’t know if he was in the pool for 30 minutes, 45 minutes. Did he drown during the swim lesson?” Bellamy mentioned. “She had no idea if free swim was even an option for King, because when she dropped him off that morning, he said, ‘Mommy, I’m going to go in the four feet,’ and she said, ‘No you’re not, you don’t know how to swim,’ and the worker at SwimRVA said to her, ‘Well, he’s in the right place, don’t you worry.'”

King’s aunt, Cherry Stone, mentioned he was enrolled within the camp particularly to discover ways to swim safely.

“King wanted to learn to swim because we do our annual trip where we go to South Carolina every year, and he wanted to make sure that he could handle being in the pool safely. [His mother] sent him to swim camp so he could learn how to swim. We just need answers. We need to know what happened,” Stone mentioned. “In this instance, King was in a place that was supposed to protect and watch him.”

WATCH: Family speaks out one week after boy drowned at Henrico swim camp

Family speaks out one week after 9-year-old drowned at Henrico swim camp

Henrico Police and Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor mentioned the investigation into the boy’s loss of life is ongoing.

Bellamy known as for stronger legislative protections for youngsters in aquatic settings, drawing a pointy distinction with current rules on different merchandise.

“It seems like vape products are more regulated than children in a pool and that is dangerous and that is how accidents like this happen,” Bellamy mentioned.

Bellamy mentioned the household’s struggle extends past King to different households who’ve confronted comparable tragedies.

Stone mentioned the outpouring of assist has meant an excellent deal to the household.

“King is loved, and he has a village, and the village is hurting right now,” Stone mentioned. “Please continue to support us and keep us in your prayers because in the days after, we’re going to need it more than ever.”