‘A friend to many’: 6-year-old boy drowned in neighbor’s pool in Smith Township

SMITH TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A 6-year-old boy drowned in a neighbor’s pool in Smith Township late Monday night.

According to the Burgettstown Area School District, Gunner McMillan was a kindergarten student at Burgettstown Area Elementary Center last school year.

Therese Presutti of Smith Township said, “It’s sad, it really is sad. I just can’t believe. I’m sick. He was the sweetest little kid. He was little, tiny. Had this little tiny red bicycle and he’d go up and down the alleyway. I just can’t believe it.”

Burgettstown Fire Chief Jerry McClain told Channel 11 that a bystander found the boy in his neighbor’s pool at around 7 p.m.

Every house on Vian Avenue in Smith Township has a pool, but the house where the drowning happened had a fence, the fire chief said.

Presutti continued, “He come over and ride around that parking lot here, and there and then he’d be here and then he’d be here and every time he’d go by he’d say, ‘Hi, Terri, Hi Terri!’”

Medics worked on the victim for 45 minutes to an hour before he was flown to Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, where he was pronounced dead.

The Burgettstown Area School District is bringing in school counselors, the district social worker and a counselor from Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services to meet with students struggling with McMillan’s death.

“With this loss occurring during the summer break, it is important that we reach out and let you know that though school is not in session, our support services are available,” the school district said. “A student death is a sensitive issue and we want to handle it as such. Sudden death is always painful, and difficult to understand. Your child may experience a wide range of emotions as they deal with the loss of a classmate.”

Counselors will be available at the following times and locations:

• Wednesday, Aug. 2
• 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Burgettstown Area Elementary Center
• No appointment necessary
• Thursday, Aug. 3
• 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Burgettstown Area Elementary Center
• No appointment necessary

Grief counselors from Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services will also be available by phone every day, any time at 1-877-225-3567.

“The communities that comprise the Burgettstown Area School District come together in ways only small towns seem to in good times and in bad. There is a special bond between all, and when a tragedy strikes one, it hits home for all. We encourage everyone to embrace the emotions that may occur over the next several days and weeks, and to seek assistance if necessary. Gunner was a special boy, and as a member of the Class of 2035, will be missed,” the school district said.

Chief McClain says it was an emotional call and that he too is looking to bring in resources for first responders who need to talk.

Smith Township police are handling the investigation. WPXI-TV reached out to the chief of police multiple times for more information, but did not hear back.

A GoFundMe has been set up in Gunner’s name.

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