Community Corner

Hundreds Rally in Dedham Demanding Answers In Teen's Drowning

The family of a Dedham teen who died after being pulled from a pool during a graduation party is wanting answers as to how this happened.

DEDHAM, MA — Family, friends and strangers gathered to show their support for Alonzo Polk and demand answers in his death during a vigil Sunday night.

The group gathered for a candlelight vigil and unity march donning signs that read, "Justice for Alonzo," and shirts that said, "A.P. Strong."

Police say the 17-year-old was found unresponsive in a pool during a graduation party on Netta road last weekend and died in a Boston hospital a few days later. According to an article by NBC10, property records indicate that the house belongs to retired Massachusetts State Police Officer James Coughlin.

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Now the honor student's family want answers as to what happened leading up to the teen's death. “They’ve yet to talk about this case, they’ve yet to talk about these people they’ve yet to mention a name, we know this is a retired state trooper's home, what are they going to do about that?," Polk's brother Shawn Drane said during the vigil.

The Norfolk county district attorney's office says they are reviewing the circumstances around Polk's death, and Dedham police have filed criminal complaints of furnishing alcohol to minors and reckless endangerment of a child in connection with the incident, according to police.

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Polk was going to turn 18 this week. A Go Fund Me page has been set up to help support Polk's family.

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