Vigil held for teen who died taking counterfeit painkiller

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — A vigil was held Saturday for a 16-year-old Skyline High School student  who died after taking a fake painkiller laced with fentanyl.

Family and friends gathered together at Faith United Methodist Church in Issaquah to remember Lucas Beirer.

Beirer, a football player, died Monday, his family said.  Beirer was the second junior from the school to die of the same overdose in less than two months.

He had hoped to become a Navy Seal one day.

King County Sheriff's Office said they believe Beirer likely ingested what he thought was a legitimate Oxycodone tablet, which was marked with M-30.

>> Second Skyline High School student dies of overdose in less than 2 months

The tablet looked like the real deal and was stamped the same, but was counterfeit and contained fentanyl, which the drug the Food and Drug Administration said is 50 times stronger than pure heroin.

When KIRO 7 talked to a friend of Beirer earlier this week, the student said this: "One of the most special people you could meet. So kind, so funny, everyone knows how funny he was and he was so smart too. It feels like we're in a bad dream. It feels like we're about to wake up, this isn't really happening."

Beirer's family has spoken out since his death and is encouraging people to talk about the crisis, which has killed five people in King County over the past week.

There will also be a memorial at 3 p.m. Sunday to celebrate Beirer's life.

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