Jude Gill, a 15-year-old freshman at Lenape High School in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, passed away on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, following injuries he sustained after being struck by a vehicle on Sunday, May 3. He was 15 years old.
Jude was walking along Church Road near Union Mill Road on Sunday evening when he was hit by a car driven by a 29-year-old woman shortly before 8:30 p.m.
Emergency responders transported him to a local hospital, where he was treated for his injuries before his passing was announced by Lenape High School Principal Tony Cattani in a letter sent home to parents on Wednesday morning.
To those who knew him, Jude was far more than a student. He was a presence. The kind of kid who walked into a room and made it feel warmer, louder, and more alive.
His laugh was easy, his friendships ran deep, and the people around him knew they were in good company whenever he was near.
Jude had been a part of the Mount Laurel Basketball program from kindergarten all the way through eighth grade, a full nine years of showing up to practices, games, and everything in between. He was not simply a player who filled a roster spot.
He was a teammate who made those around him better, a friend who stayed after the final buzzer, and a young man whose energy gave the program something that statistics could never measure.
The organization released a statement this week reflecting on the loss, noting that Jude would always remain part of the Mount Laurel Basketball family and that his memory would carry forward in every game played and every young athlete who steps onto the court.
Chris Beeler, the president of Mount Laurel Basketball and one of Jude’s former coaches, described him with the kind of simplicity that only comes when someone truly means what they say.
Jude was respectful, funny, and outgoing. He made friends with everyone. He was, in Beeler’s words, just a good kid.
Those sentiments were echoed by families throughout the community who had watched Jude grow up on those courts over the years. One family, close friends of the Gills, remembered Jude as the kindest and sweetest kid, someone who lit up every room and always wore a smile.
Their son was among Jude’s closest friends, part of a tight group the families lovingly referred to as the “3 Musketeers.” Those bonds, forged on basketball courts and in school hallways, are the kind that do not simply disappear. They stay.
Jude is survived by his parents, Ryan and Maria, and his brother Graham. The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office and the Mount Laurel Police Department have confirmed that the investigation into the crash remains ongoing.
A GoFundMe campaign has been established to support the Gill family as they navigate this painful time. Those who wish to contribute or offer support are encouraged to do so.
Principal Cattani asked the Lenape community to come together in the days ahead, to look after one another, and to hold the Gill family close in thought and in prayer.
Jude Gill was 15. He deserved more time. He will not be forgotten.