Close friends surrounded a photo of 14-year-old Dameian Gulley and remembered a person who was caring, reserved and loved soccer. They put up a poster to pay tribute to the teenager who was also known as Luke.
"We kind of want him to see this from heaven and read all this stuff people say about him, and to him," Dameian's friend Tori Stewart said.
Family members said the teenager had several medical conditions including autism. They say the last time they saw him was on Monday. Friends believed the teenager was having a tough time at school.
"He was getting bullied and he couldn't handle some stuff," Tori said.
Visalia Police Chief Colleen Mestas said her department contacted the FBI immediately and treated the investigation as an endangered at risk missing juvenile case. On Thursday morning investigators found Gulley's body located in Tulare County.
School leaders plan to have counselors on hand at Valley Oak Middle School when school resumes on Dec. 2.
"Anytime there is a tragedy or a crisis we are prepared to deploy them to that school site to provide emotional support meeting with students or staff who may be struggling," Doug Bartsch with the Visalia School District said.
Visalia police are treating the case as a death investigation.
