EVERETT—An Explorer Middle School student has died after striking a metal cable while riding an electric bike last week.
The metal cable extended from a residential driveway, between a metal fence post and a traffic bollard, the Everett Police Department informed the Lynnwood Times. The cable was so long that it shows up on Google Maps.
According to a friend of the victim’s family, who asked to remain anonymous, the metal cable was erected by a private resident who lives near the city-owned trail. The resident had been told countless times by neighbors to take the cable down, the source continued.
The Everett Police were not able to comment on whether the resident had permission to erect the metal cable on a city-owned trail as the investigation is still ongoing.
“I’m absolutely heartbroken about this tragic loss,” said Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin. “Please keep this child’s loved ones and his Explorer Middle School community in your thoughts as they grieve.”
The incident took place on Friday, May 2, around 4:30 p.m., when 13-year-old, Emilano, who goes by the name “Emmy,” was riding an electric bike southbound on 5th Avenue West. He attempted to travel through a grassy lot in the 8808 5th Avenue West to reach an adjacent cul-de-sac when he struck the braided cable, the Everett Police Department said.
The metal cable cut through Emilano’s vocal cords leaving him unable to speak and breathe. He was wearing his helmet during the incident.
The seventh grader then ran back to the mini soccer field to get his friends’ attention while holding his neck. Emilano was seen bleeding from his neck, and he was turning purple due to the impact of the metal cable. After crawling through the fence into the apartments to get his friends’ attention, Emilano lost consciousness, the mother of Emiliano’s best friend told the Lynnwood Times.
One of Emmy’s friends called 911. Everett Fire has confirmed with the Lynnwood Times that it was on the scene within three minutes of being dispatched.
Emilano was transported by emergency personnel to Harborview Medical Center where surgery was performed in an attempt to repair his vocal cords. He remained in a coma until Monday, May 5, when he was pronounced dead, the Everett PD confirmed.
The pole to which the metal cable was affixed is four feet tall, and the 30-foot metal cable attached drooped to only being three feet from the ground. It had small bicycle reflectors a few feet apart in an attempt for visibility.
Everett Risk Management has since been notified. The braided cable has also been removed.
A memorial has been placed near where Emmy was riding his bike – where several of his friends and classmates congregated Tuesday to show their respects.
The boy began attending Horizon Elementary in 5th grade and has been an Explorer Middle School student since starting 6th grade in 2023, the Mukilteo School District said.
Explorer Middle School Principal Kendrah Leone met with students in each of the boy’s classes today to share information about the incident and to inform them of his passing days later.
“In my conversations with students I stressed that any students who are in emotional need should come to the main office for support from a school counselor or other trusted staff member; we also discussed our collective obligation to respect the seriousness of this by not engaging in spreading stories or rumors,” said Leone. “We will continue to stay in communication, as appropriate, with the student’s family, and we will share any additional information the family might wish to share in the days ahead.”
Principal Leone further suggested students who may be experiencing grief to seek counseling from the following resources:
- Grief resources at Work2BeWell – available in English, Spanish and Vietnamese and geared for teens
- Addressing Grief, National Association of School Psychologists
- Addressing Grief, National Association of School Psychologists – Spanish Tips for teens who are grieving
- Snohomish Crisis Services – 1-800-584-3578 or text: 741-741
“We are saddened to learn of Emiliano’s death and send condolences to his family and loved ones. The school is supporting staff and students who are grieving the loss of a cherished friend from their school community. It’s a significant impact to all who knew him and the ripples can be felt by those who didn’t,” said Diane Bradford, Director of Communication for Mukilteo School District.
Editor’s Note:
- Article updated 3:57 p.m., May 7, 2025, with the correct response time of 3 minutes and not 10 minutes to the incident.
- Article updated 11:15 a.m., May 7, 2025, with a comment by Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin.
- Article updated 8:39 p.m., May 6, 2025, with additional pictures and more details of the incident.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
74 Responses
Was he wearing a helmet?
Yes, the head trauma was more caused by the cable striking his neck.
This is sooo not
the place!:absolutely disgusting!
This is sooo not
the place! Absolutely disgusting!
Really!!! Disgusting, this is not a place for your advertising
Wrong place. Wrong time, be considerate of others. This should be removed.
Um I feel like you’re coming with a little disrespectful. You know why should this be removed? Like this was on the news they’re trying to get information out to his friends and his loved ones so I feel like this comment is so disrespectful towards him and towards everyone that he knows
“The metal cable cut through Emilano’s vocal cords leaving him unable to speak and breathe. He was wearing his helmet during the incident.”
Says the article.
This is so tragic it’s sickening. Find out who strung the cable and hang him by the neck.
It appears that the cable could be there in an attempt to keep others from driving through that lawn, it looks like a private property adjacent to the area at the end of the road where the bollards are. Vehicle drivers often help themselves to vandalize places like that which is why the concrete posts/bollards are there. The property owner of the driveway and the grass area there was most likely trying to keep others from going in via their section since otherwise it would be wide open accessible. Private property by the looks of it.
It’s not, the article itself says it’s a city owned trail.
So many words, so opinionated, and so WRONG 🤬 READ THE ARTICLE!!!!!! So property is more valuable than a CHILD’S LIFE 🤬 So many disgusting, horrible, nasty people in these comments!
We’ve found the lady that has put it there she could put it there in the first place due to it being private property
You are being ridiculous, Rick. Another person doesn’t need to die to get some justice. There will be an accounting, no doubt, for what liability this homeowner will endure for their part in this.
The article literally said he was wearing one. How would a helmet help in this case anyway? The cable went thru his neck….Read the article.
The article was updated because it had none of that information originally
obviously not u idiot? A helmet doesn’t go to ur neck asshole.
Was he wearing a helmet on his f’ing neck?? Get off the internet.
omg emi we love and miss u sm. I hate that a stupid wire ended ur life and ruined others life’s. My heart drops everyone hearing you were choking on ur own blood grabbing the grass trying to breathe. you didn’t deserve this. LLE !! Emis world 4eva
So horrible,I’m so sorry😢
The article didn’t have any of that Information yesterday when I sent this to my husband. The Internet can change. I know. New information
obviously not u idiot? A helmet doesn’t go to ur neck asshole.
This is so disrespectful absolutely so disrespectful. How can you comment this? When a little boy died he was only 13. Yes he was wearing a helmet. He was wearing a motorcycle half helmet that he usually never wears and that’s how a wire got through his neck.
Clearly says it in the article – but helmets don’t protect necks. 🙁
Yknow if you actually read it instead of being a dumbass you would have known he was and you should know that no body makes helmets for any part of the body that’s not the head unless you have no common sense and belong in SPED classes, is that where put as a child?
Do questions like these make you feel good about yourself?
You can’t read huh? Says he was right in the article 🙄 AND has nothing to do with protecting his THROAT!! So if he wasn’t he deserves to be dead?!?! Gross af.
Yes he was but he was wearing a motorcycle helmet that he usually doesn’t wear
LLE we miss u emi 💙
LLE💙🕊️
omg emi we love and miss u sm. I hate that a stupid wire ended ur life and ruined others life’s. My heart drops everyone hearing you were choking on ur own blood grabbing the grass trying to breathe. you didn’t deserve this. LLE !! Emis world 4eva
Big lawsuit against that homeowner, lawyer up.
Prayers to this kids family 🙏🏽🙏🏽
May they receive justice and some peace
RIP emi i attended emi’s school in the 6th grade and havent talked to him but he has the sweetest soul and i cannot believe hes gone because of a wire. God bless everyone and may he rest peacefully in heaven. 🕊💙
You don’t even know him
LLE we will forever miss you and your bright smile! Emi’s world 4ever
The neighbors even told them to take it down. If only they listened and thought of the damages it would do. fly high 💙🕊 you didn’t deserve to die this young and in such a tragic way
I am so sorry for this family and the friends. Such a senseless shame. I don’t understand what that cable was trying to prevent in the 1st place. My guess is the person who put it up will be dealing in some legal issues.
Fr but why is a kid driving on a road in an e bike. Those are dangerous anyway. My friend is paralyzed now from one. Such a shame
The e bike did NOT kill him 🤬 the cable did 🤬
He went by “Emi”, not Emmy. Please correct the spelling, thanks.
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Could be the cable was there in an attempt to keep others from driving through that lawn, it looks like a private property adjacent to the area at the end of the road where the bollards are. Vehicle drivers often help themselves to vandalize places like that which is why the concrete posts are there. The property owner of the driveway and the grass area beside it there was most likely trying to keep this from happening on their section since otherwise it would be wide open accessible.
I agree. The property owner was doing a cheap fix to keep bikes from cutting across his lawn. I had the same issue a few years back when my city established a pathway next to my property. I put in a hedge. A bit costly, but problem safely solved.
You’re wrong. Wrong, wrong wrong and didn’t even read the article. The place where this happened is a city owned path for kids coming home from school to cut across.
It’s clearly the property owners fault, and his mom/family should sue them for all the damages she caused, and get justice for her son. R.I.P. Emiliano Munoz we all miss you very much 🕊️
Yes and no. A kid has no business driving on a road for licensed vehicles not going on private property. If his parents had helped him better he would still be alive. Even my 7yr old knows not to go on private property
you dumb ass shit it was an city owned trail the hell are u talking about u brat ? It was an PUBLIC trail for kids to walk home, and ur 7 year old probably fucking hates ur ass. For ur info, he only had a damn mom that cared about him and educated him but guess what sometimes that’s hard? He got educated to not go on private property but it wasn’t fucking private property it was public and she put AN INVISIBLE wire. And he was an only child. It was a grassy lot that was public and u need to get off the internet and fucking walk around to see how public it was bitch. I’m actually so pissed at this stupid ass comment , and it was on the sidewalk not a road dumb shit, not fucking hard to understand that. he was chocking on his own blood and u even having the NERVES to post this is actually insane. What if ur child wanted to have fun on an electric bike with his friends in a safe area, but he got attacked by a INVISIBKE METAL wire of the owner that has been warned many times to take it off, because guess what? THATS ILLEGAL. It was an city owned trail and she had no business especially after an other small girl got hurt not long ago from it, and she was a dumb fuck that kept it there instead of building a fence because guess what? She’s a lazy fuck as you. Stop writing shit on here and go make ur husband a sandwich, only thing ur worthy of. bitch. LONG LIVE EMI 💙🕊️ EMIS WORLD FOREVER 🌎🌎🌎
It sounds like you knew this poor baby, I am so, so sorry you have to be exposed to this insanity 😭 I know thoughts and prayers aren’t much, but it’s all that I have, and mine are with him, you, his family, and all who knew and loved him 💔 RIP and fly high 💔
Keep this same energy when it’s YOUR DEAD CHILD and people open their nasty, fat mouths and FALSELY blame YOU and/or your kid, all because they don’t know how to read or comprehend FACTS!! Omfg, I truly can’t believe you are a mother 🤯 🤮 !! Every comment you have made you have attempted to blame the VICTIM or his family 🤬 I assumed you were a 80+ year old, childless, (expletive), (expletive), (expletive) by your comments 🤮 It was NOT private property, AND you absolutely can ride a bike on a road, people ride their bikes literally IN the traffic flow. REGARDLESS, how DARE you insinuate this kid got what he deserved, or blame his parents, when some complete low life put a chain across PUBLIC PROPERTY and valued DIRT over a LIFE!!!!!!! Prayers for YOUR child.
This is a moment of deep grief , someones son passed in a horrifying incident that could have been prevented. Visually, this was not right to have wires up! You can hardly see these wires. They can trick someone. This beautiful boy had a tragic ending. If they needed a fence, they should had built one! Who ever had these wires up needs to be fined and sued! Costing a life! I wonder how many others ran into these wires I can only imagine 🤔. My deepest sympathy and condolences to Emmy and family and friends especially MOM 😭💔 Broken hearted 💔 for you may God help you in your life with everything 🙏🏼
rest in peace emi i only met u once but u were so sweet and I am so happy I did
So worried about their lawn but too cheap to put a fence up? Or even a hedge of bushes? This is awful! Poor kid!
Def should have put a fence if they didn’t want people cutting through it
I have looked into this and see the layout. There was a cul-de-sac a few feet before that private stretch of yard, could have should have gone that route so much easier. Between the bollards. All of it was to keep anyone from cutting through on the lawn to get to the other side. Again, there was a clear access on concrete to go to the other side.
I know I wouldn’t like everyone cutting through my side yard all the time for their kicks.
Why is everyone so disrespectful. And they are blaming the homeowner as if they caused the kid to speed on his electric scooter bike in the dark which is kind of late actually now, even someone mentioned that it was dark. Cutting through where he didn’t have any business going.
A tragedy, and an accident. But no one else’s fault for a kid being reckless. And maybe should not be riding a bike scooter that is that powerful to have gone so fast to do that much damage.
You’re delusional and no better than the person that put up the cable🤬🤬🤬🤬lets put a braided cable to your neck at even 5 mph and see what happens
Wow Michelle Drake, you are so hostile and angry. You like violence? It sure appears so.
no your blaming an 13 year old child for driving on a city owned trail, where she’s been warned many times to take down, another small kid got severely injured from it years ago, its on the same road of horizon elementary school, and its a trail for kids to walk home. He was riding on an electric bike, and u can’t act all bossy about it because guess what? That’s legal. Even our police officer at our school walked us to the memorial, guarded it and it’s his cop car and even was the one who planned all of this. He was the one who sent this to the Everett Police Department because guess what? He WORKS there. You obviously know nothing rather than BLAME the DEAD child. What do u want us to do? We all are grieving and wishing we could’ve done something but u acting like a real brat dosent help. And for ur info, he wasn’t cutting through nothing it was 2 yellow poles that she had no rights to tie with a cable, especially an INVISIBLE cable. Educate your self more before being so bratty. And I don’t care if u try to fight it because I don’t care. LONG LIVE EMI 💙🕊️
I mean, you made me feel the same way 🤷🏼♀️ I think it’s a YOU problem, not an us problem. Take your OPINION and stick it wear it belongs!! Where did it say he was speeding?? How do YOU know the power of the bike he was on?? You witnessed this right, you were there?? ASSume much 🤬 And you just told us you value DIRT over a LIFE 🤬 The chain went on PUBLIC property, now THAT is ILLEGAL 🤬🤬. YOU just claimed a CHILD got what he DESERVED, DEATH, for being a CHILD!!!! And you have the audacity to accuse someone else of enjoying violence 🤯 🤮GTFOH!!!!!!!! You must know this poor excuse of a human being personally 🤮 Oh, by the way, I read in another comment a little girl was hurt by the SAME CHAIN recently and this POS was warned multiple times it was DANGEROUS and to remove it!!!!!
Are you judgemental much? It sure sounds like it? What is it that makes you feel the need to blame the victim of a tragic accident? A 13 year old victim at that. And by the way, the accident happened at 4:30pm. Not anywhere close to dark. I really wonder if you could look Emi’s family in the eye and be this cruel. It’s easy to hide behind screen names and hurl cruel statements. But this family just lost their only child. Try some compassion.
Ok, so it was at 4:30 someone else said recently to me, and I also saw that in a report to verify, and can’t edit my comment. But someone else had acted on authority and previously said it was dark and that is why he didn’t see the cable. Not so.
That is exactly the problem. People spread misinformation and it just keeps spreading because people take everything they see or hear as fact. Emi’s family and friends are grieving and they sure don’t need to see and hear opinions from people who don’t know the facts. Judgemental opinions towards Emi and his family have no purpose except to make people feel self righteous. It’s absolutely shameful.
Read your comment, touch your throat using a tiny bit of pressure. It does not take much to crush everything there. Walk at your normal pace into a wire, rope, twine at throat level. Painful? Damage? You have no idea how fast or slow he was going and it does not matter. Trying to keep people off your property? Put up a physical, visible block like a fence or hedge. Did you forget he is a child? Do you remember being a child?
It looks from the picture of the friend on an identical bike to be class 3. And it is against the law for anyone under 16 to ride a class 3 ebike because they go so fast
LLE we miss you emi i miss all the good memories together it was so fun you gave a big smile to everyone you were there when i had nobody fly high.
LLE we miss you emi i miss all the good memories together it was so fun you gave a big smile to everyone you were there when i had nobody fly high we miss you it doesnt feel the same way without yu.
What is wrong with people? This family just lost their only child to a horrific accident. Do you not think they are in enough pain without people hurling darts at them and their dead son? Saying they should have taught him to stay off private property is downright cruel. And second guessing Emi’s actions about riding an e-bike, whether it was dark or anything else about the situation is throwing salt on wounds. Are you folks judgemental much? He was 13 for gosh sakes. It was a tragic accident and second guessing this sweet young man and his family is as low as you can go.
LLE💙🕊️ You are missed so much Emi. I remember always hearing about you, then i saw you when you were in 5th grade and i was in 4th. You are loved so much. You were taken too young and everyone misses you. I remember Miss. Peretti always saying amazing things about you. And they were true. We miss you dearly. Rest in peace and fly high Emiliano💙🕊️
KATHLEEN H WILSON is the owner of the property, the cable was from her property to city owned property.
I am sure she will burn in Hell for her disgusting behavior, and the city employee that ignored the request from multiple neighbors, I saw some neighbors cutting the cable and the stubborn KATHLEEN H WILSON put it back even after her murder. so disgusting.
That may be the name of the legal owner, yet how do you know if there may be a renter that lives there that has been the one that hung the cable across? Be careful who you are slandering and going after with a raging mob.
People, we are all upset an horrified by this terrible accident. Lashing out at others in the comments is not helpful. People are entitled to ask questions.
While this is tragic, I have multiple questions about what was actually being ridden. Was it an electric bicycle? Or was it an electric dirt bike?
The one photographed that is a friends and “similar in size” is not a class 1, class 2, or class 3 e-bike. It’s a high performance dirt bike with no pedals and reaches speeds of 50+mph… if it was a dirt bike the 13 year old was riding… it raises more questions.
tragic and stupid loss of life.
atleast hang some reflective ribbons from it.
boy, this is a really mean and crude site…the nastiness and language and anger and meanness.
jeeez…
Yeah I could see why the wire was up. It was probably to discourage people from cutting through their yard to get to the trail. If the resident complained to the city the city should have helped put up a fence or the resident could have put up a fence instead of a wire. The kid made a mistake and it cost him his life. Cutting through somebody yard that’s next to public property shouldn’t cost a life.
If you knowlingly purchase or have property by public property you have to realize people will be coming by or through your property. It’s something to be conscious of when purchasing a home. They should have worked with the city to find a safer solution. And if they did it’s the city’s fault for the resident having to find their own solution to a problem that urged them to put this wire up in the first place. Such a tragic situation.
Emi was my friend never deserve what happened every day that I drive past that place I always think what if it was in that day and it shouldn’t have been him that day. What if he never got on that electric bike what if our friends never let him leave he would still be here today, but he’s not everyone says everything happens for a reason. Why did this happen for he never deserved it he was such a kind, loving soul. He was always happy. You literally never see him without smiling. He was always smiling at the halls. If you see you you’re probably wave at you like honestly I can’t believe this happened to my best friend I just wish I was never him. I wish you was someone else that day not him every day. I cry about him saying she should have still been here that should’ve never been him but yet those days that I do cry, I feel like he stay with me saying it’s gonna be OK and I’m not to be sad about it. It’s been months since this and I still can’t get over it but I know he’s in a better place now. Love u my angel and never stop LLE💙🕊️