The parents of slain Joao Souza, Alexandre and Renata Souza will stop by the school around 5 p.m. to meet with the Blind Brook High School community, the school's superintendent's office told Daily Voice. Joao's parents relocated to Brazil after he graduated from Blind Brook.
To make sure the event is for classmates and friends, the school sent out an email to the school-wide community but stressed the event was not for media or others.
The email, sent at 9 a.m., read: "Mr. & Mrs. Souza, parents of Joao, will be passing through Rye Brook later today and a gathering for family and friends to remember Joao will occur in the BBHS Commons starting at 5 p.m. All members of the Blind Brook community who wish to attend may do so later today."
Souza, a 2017 graduate, and former Rye Brook resident was a soccer standout and a three-year starter on the varsity boys soccer team. He also was a star player in the New York Soccer Club in Scarsdale and a member of Blind Brook’s Autism Speaks chapter.
He was stabbed to death at a residential hall at Binghamton University where he was a freshman engineering student. A fellow student, 20-year-old Michael Roque of Massapequa in Nassau County, was arrested Monday in connection to Souza's death.
His parents are expected to travel to Binghamton to make final arrangements.
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