Candlelight Vigil Honors 2 Pittsburg Teens Who Drowned

PITTSBURG - A candlelight vigil is scheduled for Wednesday night in Pittsburg to remember two local teenagers who drowned last week.

Zuleica Ruiz and Brandon Carranza, current and former students at Pittsburg High School, drowned last Saturday in the Mokelumne River, the Sacramento Bee reported.

According to the Bee, the Amador County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call at 2:30 p.m. reporting that the pair had fallen into the Mokelumne River near the Moore Creek Campground and never returned.

NBC Bay Area reported the victims were cousins, citing Pittsburg Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Janet Schultz.

Acccording to the station, Ruiz would have graduated from Pittsburg High School next week. Schulze said Carranza graduated last year in a letter to the school community.

Amador County Undersheriff Jim Wegner told NBC the two teens were jumping off rocks into the Mokelumne River when they were swept away downstream around 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Tonight's candlelight vigil will be held beginning at 6:00 p.m. at Pittsburg High School.

Friends of both victims have set up GoFundMe accounts to help defer funeral costs for the families.

If you would like to support Zuleica's family during this time, please follow this link to the GoFundMe.com page to donate.

Here is the link to support Brandon's family.

Each of the funds has had more than $7,000 donated in two days.

According to information on Zuleica Ruiz's page, there will be a viewing Thursday, June 9th at the Pittsburg Funeral Chapel. The address is 2295 Railroad Avenue.

Burial will follow at the Holy Cross Cemetery located at 2200 East 18th St.

-images via Pittsburg police, gofundme.com