College of Georgia scholar Jayden Barreto dies after leaping from cliff into Alabama lake celebrating commencement
A College of Georgia graduate died after leaping from a towering cliff into an Alabama lake throughout a commencement journey along with his associates.
Jayden Barreto, 24, vanished underwater when he jumped from Chimney Rock into Lake Martin — roughly 40 miles outdoors of Montgomery — on Wednesday, in keeping with investigators.
“Jayden jumped off the rock, and witnesses instructed us he by no means got here again up,” Elmore County Sheriff Invoice Franklin instructed the Montgomery Advertiser.
Barreto, of Columbus, Ga., had been celebrating his commencement with associates on the standard lake spot, which is described as a “must-do soar for the adrenaline junkies and thrill seekers,” in keeping with the lake’s web site.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene after studies {that a} man had disappeared. Dive groups looked for hours earlier than recovering Barreto’s physique round 9:45 p.m., officers mentioned.
Divers discovered him on an underwater shelf roughly 50 toes under the floor. Authorities mentioned the lake plunges a minimum of one other 70 toes past the drop-off.
“The soar from Chimney Rock is like hitting a sheet of glass from 60 toes up,” Franklin instructed the newspaper. “All of it will depend on how your physique hits the water.”
“We have now nothing that factors to this being something however a tragic accident, the place the younger man drowned,” the sheriff added. “However we’re conducting an investigation.”
Barreto’s physique was despatched to the Alabama Division of Forensic Sciences to find out his explanation for demise.
Montgomery Fireplace Rescue mentioned six divers took half within the search underneath “difficult situations.”
“Crews labored alongside a number of companion businesses in a coordinated and prolonged search effort,” the division mentioned in a Fb publish.
“Our ideas are with the household and family members throughout this tough time.”
The College of Georgia confirmed Barreto graduated in 2025 with levels in administration data programs and psychology, in keeping with WSB-TV.
Mates remembered Barreto as variety and well-liked in tributes posted on-line after his demise.
“Jayden was a pure gentle on this world. He was actually liked by everybody and will probably be missed,” one buddy wrote.
“My prayers and condolences exit to the Barreto household,” one other mentioned. “My coronary heart is heavy; Jayden was an ideal individual, classmate, and buddy.”
“Jayden was a direct buddy and my expertise in school was made all the higher due to realizing him,” a 3rd buddy added.
