A teenager who died in a Lakewood swamp during a police pursuit has been publicly identified by the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office.
Nicholas Woody II, 16, was in a stolen car with four other juveniles on Dec. 2, according to police. The cause and manner of his death were listed as pending.
When Lakewood officers began to pursue the vehicle, the driver parked on Woodlawn Avenue Southwest. The juveniles abandoned the car and ran off near a marsh. Police arrested two of the juveniles who were reportedly wet, indicating they went into the swamp, according to a previous News Tribune report.
Woody was seen about 40 feet out in the swamp, police said. Officers tried to get him out of the water, but he refused. When officers went into the swamp to try and retrieve him, he disappeared from sight. Police then discovered the boy submerged in about three feet of water. He was unresponsive when officers took him out, police said.
Woody was taken to Mary Bridge Children's Hospital where he died.
The two juveniles arrested by police were to be charged in Pierce County Juvenile Court on Wednesday afternoon, according to the Pierce County Prosecutor's Office.
Police searched for the fourth and fifth juveniles, but they were not immediately found.
A GoFundMe was created to help fund funeral arrangements for Woody. About $4,230 has been raised so far.
