Family of Alexandria boy who fell from high-rise launches fundraiser

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A family member of the boy who died after falling out of a high-rise apartment building last week launched a fundraiser to support the boy's mother.

The boy fell from a high-rise in the 200 block of Yoakum Parkway last Wednesday. The GoFundMe says the 3-year-old boy's name is Dylan Velasquez. His aunt Melissa started the fundraiser.

Melissa said in the fundraiser that, "Dylan was a smart and fun 3-year-old with special needs. He never left the room without making someone smile or laugh."

The fundraiser's goal was set at $15,000 and had raised just shy of $4,000 as of this writing.

Alexandria Police Chief Don Hayes says they received a 911 call around 2 p.m. Wednesday that a child was injured. First responders found 3-year-old Dylan laying on a balcony. Despite efforts to revive him, he was pronounced dead.

A neighbor told WUSA9, "I kept asking [first responders] 'has the baby passed' and they wouldn't answer me. But, the baby didn't cry and they'd been out there trying to resuscitate the baby for a while."

Dylan's aunt said, "There’s no way to prepare for a loss this great. The donations received will be given to Dylan’s mother."