‘America’s Got Talent’ Cheerleader Emily Gold, 17, Dies by Suicide Weeks After Appearing on Show

mily Gold had wowed the nation alongside the Los Osos High School dance team on ‘America’s Got Talent’ in August

Los Osos High School dancer and America’s Got Talent contestant Emily Gold, 17, has died.

On Friday, Sept. 13, Gold was found dead by suicide at 11:52 pm, the San Bernardino Coroner’s Office confirms to PEOPLE.

In a statement shared with PEOPLE, California Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Rodrigo Jimenez said that “officers from the California Highway Patrol Rancho Cucamonga area responded to a pedestrian down in lanes.”

“When the officers arrived, they located a female, 17 year old, who was struck by at least one other vehicle in the carpool lane on eastbound 210,” Jimenez said. “The female did succumb to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.”

Police have asked anybody who saw what happened or has additional information to contact their investigator, Officer S. Gonzalez.

PEOPLE has reached out to Rancho Cucamonga Police Department as well as representatives for America’s Got Talent and Los Osos High School for comment.

Just last month, the Southern California teenager had wowed the nation alongside the Los Osos High School dance team on America’s Got Talent. After making it through auditions, the group landed in to the series’ quarterfinals before they were eliminated in August.

Despite their elimination, judge Simon Cowell gave the team’s high energy performance a standing ovation.

“It was absolutely brilliant,” Cowell said at the time. “What I loved about this was first of all the energy. I think what I just saw is everything a great school should be doing, which is encouraging talent and friendship. “

Cowell continued, “It reminded me of seeing the High School Musical movie and thinking every kid should go to a school like that.”

Speaking with PEOPLE on Aug. 13, Gold said of her time onstage, “When I’m performing, I’m really thinking about all the corrections because we get corrections up until five minutes before we go on stage. So to really just think about all those so that we apply them is my biggest priority on stage.”

Asked how she was juggling being in high school with performing on AGT, she said, “it’s definitely tough to balance it all, but we make it happen.”

Shortly after the news of her death, Gold’s loved ones organized a GoFundMe to raise money for the dancer’s family.

“With great sadness we share our Los Osos Grizzly Emily Gold has passed away,” the fundraiser read. “As a community lets come together and support the Gold family in this difficult time. Please know this money will go directly to the family to support them and help with expenses.”

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.

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