Funeral planned for teen killed skateboarding

A funeral has been planned for the Gov. Thomas Johnson High School student who died Wednesday from injuries suffered while skateboarding early this week, authorities said.

A close friend of the family, Vianney Cruz, said Friday the funeral for Pablo Serpas, 16, will be 10:30 a.m. today at Kingdom Hall-Jehovah's Witness, 11136 Old Frederick Road, Thurmont .

Cruz said Pablo was born in El Salvador. He moved to the United States with his family in 1995, Cruz said.

His mother, Zoilla Serpas, a single mother, relied on Pablo to help her with his younger siblings, ages 12 and 8, Cruz said.

Pablo worked at a restaurant, Cruz said.

"He gave his paycheck to his mother," Cruz said.

Zoilla Serpas has been comforted by an outpouring of support from her friends and the community, Cruz said. "The high school sent notes from the students," Cruz said. "Pablo was a person who was loved very much."

Police declined to release the name of the boy who died. The teen suffered a head injury while skateboarding in the 1500 block of Carey Place at about 9:45 p.m. Sunday, said Capt. Kevin Grubb of the Frederick Police Department.

The injured teenager was flown to R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore for treatment, Grubb said. Police were notified of his death Thursday, he said, and they are investigating.

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