17-year-old America’s Got Talent cheerleader jumps to her death from California overpass
A California school is in shock after the sudden death of a popular student, just a month after her dance group wowed the judges on America’s Got Talent.
Emily Gold, 17, was found dead under a bridge just before midnight Friday in an apparent suicide on eastbound Highway 210 in Rancho Cucamonga.
The San Bernardino coroner’s office is ruling Emily’s death a suicide.
She was part of the Los Osos High School dance team that reached the quarterfinals of the reality TV competition with their energetic dance routine.
A GoFundMe campaign has already raised nearly half of its $50,000 goal, after the dancer’s distraught friends paid tribute on social media.
Emily Gold was found dead Friday night on the eastbound 210 Highway in Rancho Cucamonga, weeks after competing on America’s Got Talent
Devastated friends of the talented dancer have taken to social media to express their praise.
“Let everyone know that she is now at peace, even though there were many who loved and even looked up to Emily Gold,” Samantha Shaw wrote on Facebook.
‘She will be remembered no matter what by her Grizzly friends and by those who loved her with all their heart and soul.
‘Emily Gold, thank you for everything you’ve done in this world. You’ve done more than enough. Claws up to you Emily. Claws up.’
America’s Got Talent judge Simon Cowell gave the group a standing ovation after their performance at the auditions in May of this year.
“It was absolutely brilliant,” he told the panel. “What I loved about it was the energy first of all. I think I just saw everything a great school should do, which is to encourage talent and friendship.
“It reminded me of the movie High School Musical and I thought, ‘Every kid should go to a school like that.’”
America’s Got Talent judge Simon Cowell gave a standing ovation after the group’s performance at the auditions in May
Emily was a member of both the school dance team and the school cheerleading team.
Emily in her last Instagram post four weeks ago
Multiple callers alerted the California Highway Patrol after seeing Emily on the road just east of Haven Avenue.
A CHP spokesman said multiple vehicles had already driven into her body when officers arrived and at least one vehicle had not stopped.
The school brought up the news of the senior’s death in a message to students on Saturday.
“Emily was on our dance team and cheerleading team. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family as they grieve.”
“Please keep Emily and her loved ones and friends in your thoughts and prayers,” Los Osos High School Principal Eric Cypher added in a written statement.
Fellow group member Mia Bustamante said Emily would be “missed beyond words.”
“You brought me the most beautiful kind of love I could ever ask for. My best friend, my forever dancing sister,” she wrote on Instagram.
