“The mat will never feel the same without her,” said her team, ATA Cheer Lake Norman
Credit: Cavin-Cook Funeral Home & Crematory
NEED TO KNOW
- A middle school student has died after falling from a golf cart in a North Carolina neighborhood on March 23, according to police
- The victim has been identified by her cheerleading team, ATA Cheer Lake Norman, as Julia Rooney
- Rooney, 13, was an all-star competitive cheerleader and a student at Woodland Heights Middle School, her obituary read
A middle school student and beloved cheerleader died after falling out of a moving golf cart in North Carolina.
The Mooresville Police Department said the incident occurred on Swamp Rose Drive near Golden Star Lane around 5 p.m. local time on Monday, March 23, according to NBC affiliate WCNC and The Charlotte Observer. The golf cart was moving at a "low speed" at the time, investigators told the paper.
Investigators said a teenage girl fell from a golf cart as the driver attempted a left turn at the intersection, WCNC and CBS affiliate WBTV reported. Several other children were injured as well, though their conditions were unknown.
The girl who fell was transported to a local hospital, where she later died, according to WBTV.
ATA Cheer Lake Norman has identified the victim as Julia Rooney, a member of their team.
Rooney was an All-Star Competitive Cheerleader who dedicated “countless hours to practice and performance,” according to her obituary. She was 13 years old.
In a statement shared on Facebook, ATA Cheer Lake Norman described Rooney as “a friend, a light in our gym, and someone who made an impact on everyone she met.”
“The mat will never feel the same without her,” the team wrote. “From her days as a youth athlete to her time as a senior, she always carried the same bright smile.”
Rooney was a student at Woodland Heights Middle School, where she also “cheered proudly” and “her enthusiasm and talent shone brightly,” according to her obituary.
“Her love for cheerleading was matched only by her warm heart and infectious smile, which brought joy to her family and friends," the obituary read.
In a statement, the Iredell-Statesville School District said, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the student's family, friends, and all those who knew and loved them,” according to WCNC.
Resources have been made available at Woodland Heights Elementary and Woodland Heights Middle schools in the wake of the tragedy, school officials said.
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The Mooresville Police Department and Iredell-Statesville School District did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
ATA Cheer Lake Norman said its gym “will be open for anyone who needs a place to gather, reflect, or be together” following Rooney’s death.
Rooney’s funeral will be held at 11 a.m. local time on Wednesday, April 1, at St. Therese Catholic Church, according to her obituary.
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