18-year-old dies from alleged fentanyl overdose

Friends and family are making their voices heard after a local teenager died after he allegedly ingested fentanyl .

18-year-old Francisco ” Pancho ” Lopez was hospitalized on Tuesday after he was found in his home. He was taken to the hospital where he was then put on life support, according to his family.

He passed away Friday morning.

Over the weekend, Pancho’s family held a carwash fundraiser to raise funds needed for his funeral.

“Our cousin Pancho passed away Friday morning, over an overdose, were having a good turnout, but we still need more cars and donations, and continuous support”, says Emmanuel Lopez, Pancho’s cousin.

The exact cause of death is pending a report from the medical examiner’s office but family members said an early toxicology report said he had overdosed on fentanyl .

Fentanyl is a dangerous and often lethal opioid medication, or narcotic, when not administered professionally.

Over the past month, police said there have been three other cases of fentanyl overdoses. Three of them were under the age 20.

A 27-year-old man reportedly overdosed and Narcan was administered.

Lopez was transported to Yuma Regional Medical Center, where he died.

Francisco’s family said they don’t want to point fingers, but want to spread awareness of the dangers of fentanyl .

Pancho was an Aztec High School senior, months away from graduation and had plans of attending college. He was the oldest of four siblings.

Family members are warning others of a phone call scam going around asking people for money and saying he died of cancer.

They say this is not legitimate, and the only site they have set up to raise funds is his GoFundMe page.