Boy Drowns in Winston County Pond

WINSTON COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Winston County community is mourning the death of a 12-year-old boy who drowned over the weekend.

Coroner Scott Gregory says Xavier Paten was wading in a pond along Highway 490 in Nanih Waiya with two cousins when he went under the water. It happened around 12:30 Sunday afternoon.

Gregory says the other boys went to a nearby home to call for help. When firefighters arrived, they were not able to resuscitate Paten.

An autopsy ruled his death an accidental fresh water drowning.

Paten was a student at Eiland Middle School in Louisville.

Beck Funeral Home in Louisville is handling arrangements.

Visitation will be held Friday at the funeral home from 12:00pm to 6:00pm. The funeral service will be Saturday at 2:00pm at Unity Missionary Baptist Church.