‘Anybody’s kid’: Mourners remember Fort Worth brothers who were electrocuted

Jorge Lopez stood by the spot where his nephews died, holding his two daughters by his side.

“Alex and Isaiah, you might as well call them anybody’s kid,” Lopez said. “Because around here, it could have been.”

Alex Lopez, 12, and his brother, Isaiah, 11, were electrocuted Wednesday evening while playing with friends at Oakland Lake Park.

They were exploring a wooded area, family said, when Alex stepped in a puddle that was electrified by nearby downed power lines. Isaiah tried to save him but was shocked by his brother’s touch.

Their memorial Friday night was a chance for more than 100 friends and family to remember the boys — the crowd released dozens of red and blue balloons and lit candles.

But it was also an opportunity for the mourners to see up close where the accident happened, where the Lopez brothers played often with neighborhood kids.

The spot was off a trail about 20 yards into a thicket of trees and brush just beyond a ballfield at the park. It was marked off with caution tape Friday, but many who attended the memorial stepped through the barrier to pay their respects.

They set up a small wooden cross and tied to it a bundle of shiny balloons. They scattered rose petals and prayed and cried.

One little girl, Abby, left a hand-written note, complete with crosses drawn in crayon.

“I hope you guys are in heaven now!” her note said. “I will see you guys later up there. Just be waiting for me don’t go anywhere. Go find my dog Lulu. Make her happy too.”

The Lopez brothers lived near the park with their grandmother, their family said, and they attended an International Leadership of Texas charter school in North Richlands Hills.

Parents at the school on Friday organized a GoFundMe page for the boys’ funeral expenses. By Friday night, the page had raised more than $14,000.

“Alex (Jose) and Isaiah were bright lights,” the page said.

Donations for expenses can also be made directly to Greenwood funeral home, Jenkins said. The family’s account there is No. 251806. A public viewing at the funeral home is scheduled for noon-5 p.m. Sunday, and a graveside service is scheduled for 3 p.m. Monday.

This story was originally published March 31, 2017 at 12:36 PM with the headline "‘Anybody’s kid’: Mourners remember Fort Worth brothers who were electrocuted."