Community remembers Sunnyside High School student killed in pedestrian crash

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - Hundreds of balloons floated over Sunnyside High School in Fresno Wednesday.  Family, friends and teachers gathered to remember Robert Peele. Robert died after he was hit by a car at the intersection of Peach and Lane Avenues on Friday.  Police say he rode his electric scooter into the path of a moving car. He was 14 years old and his 15th birthday was the very next day.  “He was just a kind person. He loved love,” Robert’s mom Nicole Jones said.  Jones says he lived a full life, but it was not without its challenges.    “He was a fighter from day one, ever since I had him,” Jones said.  Robert spent much of his young life in a hospital room battling sickle cell, dreaming of being on the football field instead.  “We didn't think he would ever play sports, but he came here, and he signed up, and he came to practice,” Jones said.  Sunnyside High School football coach Giovanni Guzman met Robert as an athlete, but he saw Robert’s grit on the days he couldn’t even play.  “I think he was pretty good about knowing his own limitations,” Guzman said. “I mean, even when he couldn't go, he was very good about still showing up, still being a part of it, rolling with the kids.” This would have been Robert’s first season actually getting to play football.  “You know, he was so excited to play football, so excited to put a helmet on, his shoulder pads on, and he'll never get to experience those first things,” Guzman said.  Robert’s loved ones are not clinging to what they’ve lost, though. They are clinging to the faith and hope they still have.  “There was no mistake about what happened,” Jones said. “It hurts, but it wasn't a mistake. We believe in God, and I believe that God let me be his mom, and he was ready for him.” They choose to celebrate the full life Robert lived and rest in the comfort that he is no longer suffering from sickle cell.  Guzman says the football season will feel different without Robert, but they will think of him every time they put on their gear, and they plan to honor Robert’s family at the team’s first game on August 20.