Witnesses detail Hernandez's involvement in McAllen party where Nikki Rowe student fell

MCALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — New information has been released regarding the involvement of a teenager arrested in connection to the death of a Nikki Rowe football player.

Heron Hernandez has been charged with purchasing/furnishing alcohol to a minor, causing serious bodily injury, according to Hidalgo County Records.

Just before midnight on Aug. 17, McAllen police responded to the 4700 block of North Bentsen Road regarding reports that a minor, later identified as Adan De La Cruz, attempted to jump from the roof into a pool, but slipped, landed on the ground and hit his head, according to documents obtained by ValleyCentral.

De La Cruz died days later from his injuries, as confirmed by McAllen Independent School District, where the young man attended as a senior linebacker on the Nikki Rowe Football Team.

"We are deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of one of our students," the district wrote. "Adan De La Cruz, a senior at Rowe High School, passed away today. He was a wonderful young man, very well liked, and much admired by his peers. He will be missed but not forgotten. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family during this difficult time."

The next morning, the McAllen Police Department issued the following statement, also confirming De La Cruz's death:

"We received notice from medical personnel of the passing of this young person," the police department stated. "This event is very tragic and our sincerest sympathies go out to Adan's family and student body. This incident highlights the risk involved when alcohol is consumed and when people make alcohol available to people who should not have access to it."

The city is holding Hernandez and two others responsible for providing alcohol to the minors at the pool party that fatal day.

A criminal complaint, obtained by ValleyCentral, provided four witness statements from guests at the party. The witnesses all stated that they found out about the party through a social media flyer that had four Instagram accounts as the hosts, one being Hernandez's.

Witnesses stated the flyer said there would be a $10 entrance fee that could be collected on CashApp prior to the function, or a $15 entrance fee collected at the doors of the party.

One of the witnesses provided proof of a money transfer to Hernandez, who was collecting the fees for the party. Other witnesses also stated Hernandez was at the entrance gate of the party collecting $15 payments.

According to the complaint, the witnesses stated alcohol was already at the location when they arrived to the party and was free for everyone to drink.

The witnesses that were interviewed by police say they were also at the party when De La Cruz fell onto the ground.

Based on the witness statements, police said they have reason to believe that Hernandez committed the offense of "furnishing alcohol to a minor, who as a result of the consumption of the alcoholic beverages caused another person to suffer serious bodily injury to death."

Additionally, police contacted Hernandez's mother to obtain a recorded statement from Hernandez. However, she replied that she believed "Heron is not in a good mental state to provide a statement."

The other two arrests in this case are Jaime Islas and his son, who have both been charged with purchasing/furnishing alcohol to a minor, causing serious bodily injury.