MIAMI (WSVN) - A medical examiner has confirmed that a 10-year-old boy, who died in June, had two powerful opioids in his system.
An autopsy revealed fifth-grader Alton Banks had both heroin and fentanyl in his system when he died on June 23. Banks was visiting a community pool in Miami’s Overtown neighborhood where he began vomiting after coming home and was found unconscious that evening.
First responders said they are doing everything they can to save those who come into contact with the pain killer. However, it is so potent that many people have passed away after touching the opioid.
“This is just further validation that we have an incredible crisis in our community,” said Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez.
In July, detectives said they did not believe Banks got the drugs from home.
Banks is now one of the youngest victims of what Fernandez and area law enforcement is calling an opioid crisis.
Drug dealers commonly mix the powerful painkiller with heroin to amplify the effects.
The drug has been used to treat the terminally ill, but fentanyl is so powerful that it can be ingested by simply touching or smelling small amounts.
The victim’s mother told the Miami Herald that her son was a fun kid who wanted to become an engineer and loved the Carolina Panthers.
Miami Fire Rescue said they are seeing more of these kinds of instances affecting people of all ages, mainly in the Downtown area.
“It’s a big crisis. Not only in the City of Miami but nationwide,” said Miami Fire Rescue Captain Christian Guzman.
The Miami-Dade State Attorney has begun an investigation into how the boy got in contact with the drugs.
The State Attorney’s Office said no one has been arrested in this case.
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