Community mourns loss of Mount Juliet High School student with candlelight vigil
“I was supposed to be planning prom and graduation, not a funeral.”
MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WSMV) - Mount Juliet neighbors are coming together to remember the life of 16-year-old Kyler Gatica, whose life was tragically cut short in a car accident.
Kyler passed away in a car crash while returning from a family beach trip during fall break. His family describes him as a joyful and kind-hearted person, and his mother, Stephanie Gatica, has been deeply touched by the outpouring of love and support they’ve received.
“We knew we had a special boy inside of our house, but we had no idea what kind of impact that he had on people that were strangers and that we are so incredibly proud of him,” Stephanie shared.
Kyler was a student at Mount Juliet High School, where his classmates have been paying tribute. They decorated his parking spot and helped plan the candlelight vigil at the school to celebrate his life.
His mother says these gestures show just how much Kyler meant to the people around him.
“He was the type of child that everyone absolutely loved,” Stephanie said.
Known for his kindness, competitiveness, and big heart, Kyler had a bright future ahead of him. He loved basketball and volleyball, and he had dreams of becoming a radiologist. College scholarships were already being offered to him before the accident.
“I was supposed to be planning prom and graduation, not a funeral,” Stephanie said.
As his family tries to cope with this unimaginable loss, his father, Matt Gatica, shared a message for his son.
“We love you, son. You’ll be missed every minute of our lives… but we know you’re resting in God’s hands now," Matt said.
The community vigil will give neighbors, friends, and classmates a chance to come together to grieve and remember Kyler. His family says they’ll always cherish the fun memories they made, especially during their final beach trip.
A candlelight vigil will be held Thursday at 6 p.m. at Mount Juliet High School to honor his memory.
A GoFundMe page has been created to support the Gatica family during this difficult time.
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