The Los Osos Varsity Dance team honored Emily Gold in a heartfelt Instagram tribute.

Note: This article discusses suicide and may be distressing to some readers.

Emily Gold, a 17-year-old cheerleader from Los Osos High School, tragically passed away. Earlier this year, Emily and her team auditioned for America’s Got Talent and made it to the semi-finals with their performance to Usher and will.i.am’s “OMG.”

On September 13, it was revealed that Emily had died by suicide. The San Bernardino Coroner’s Office confirmed her death, noting that she was found at 11:52 pm after being struck by vehicles in the eastbound lanes of the 210 freeway. The California Highway Patrol reported that she was discovered in the carpool lane and was pronounced dead at the scene.

In a touching Instagram post, the Los Osos High School Varsity Dance Team paid tribute to Emily, describing her as a beloved leader, role model, and friend. They shared a video of Emily and expressed their deep sorrow, stating: “It is with such a heavy heart that we share the passing of our beautiful, kind, and loving Emily Gold. She embodied every aspect of our core team values and will be remembered dearly by her teammates.”