Throng eulogizes teen amid questions

Possible drug overdose probed in death

By: Cara Latham
   HIGHTSTOWN — About 150 teary-eyed teenagers, teachers, friends and relatives crowded the Slow Down Café, one of Brian Landry’s favorite places, to celebrate the life of the 17-year-old who had just died from an apparent drug overdose.
   "We’re investigating it as a possible drug overdose. The cause of death is pending toxicology results," Angelo Onofri, a spokesman for the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, said this week, while adding that such a probe is standard procedure.
   While some comments made Monday at the Mercer Street café along with others online indicated Brian’s involvement with drugs, the get-together was meant as a memorial to the Hightstown High student who died at his East Windsor home the day before.
   "Even the boy who always made the very best of every situation could make one bad choice that takes him away from us forever," said Leah Skye, 16, a junior at Hightstown High School and one of Brian’s close friends who spoke on a microphone.
   Outside the café, Leah said, "I just hope that this could be a lesson to all to say something when you have the chance. And not watch one of your best friends throw their life away for something so trivial."
   Brian’s father, Glenn Johnston, declined to discuss Brian’s death, but offered to a Herald reporter that it was not a suicide.
   "I just want everybody to remember him," he said to the crowd. "Don’t remember his death. Remember his life. He lived his life like there was no tomorrow."
   Many students hugged each other, crying over each other’ shoulders. Lining up inside the café, where they signed posters, placed pictures of him and laid flowers, many of them spoke of him as an all-around "good kid."
   As friends comforted her outside on the patio of the café, Leah said he was one of the most intelligent people she knew and that he had many things going for him. But most of all, she said, he was friends with everyone.
   "He could find the good in anyone," she said as she sobbed. "He always put everyone before himself. He’s one of the most optimistic people I’ve ever met, and could point out the good in any situation. No one ever saw this coming."
   One female worker at the café said she had never had a Valentine, so one Valentine’s Day, Brian gave her a flower.
   "He apologized for not giving me a dozen," she said. "He was never satisfied at what he was able to give."
   Bill Pierce, 17, a senior at Hightstown High, said Brian taught him how to skateboard. When Brian got his driver’s license, the two would go to Philadelphia often because Brian loved to skate there. Brian also liked snowboarding and other extreme sports, his friend said.
   "I chilled with him every single day" after he got his license, said Bill.
   He later added, "He really didn’t deserve this."
   Brian’s sister, Alysa, 15, said he was "the best brother."
   "Everyone’s going to miss him so much, especially me because I’m his sister," she said.
   Brian’s teachers talked of his bright future and his warming personality.
   Stuart Wexler, Brian’s advanced placement government teacher and assistant debate coach, said he loved to debate, whether in class or during a debate.
   "Once he found a niche, whatever it would be, he would take whatever that was and make the most of it," he said.
   Chris Gregory, head debate coach last year and Brian’s geometry teacher, said he won "best speaker" a few times.
   "It was more along the lines of how convincing he was," he said. "He knew the facts. He was always a very bright kid."
   Even though sometimes Brian skipped out on his homework for geometry, "he didn’t need to (do it) because he picked it up. I was looking forward to having him this year," Mr. Gregory said.
   Kbecky Escribow, an English as a second language teacher at the school, said she, too, was very much looking forward to seeing him this year. Even though she didn’t have him as a student, she met him when he had her for study hall two years ago. She said they shared numerous talks.
   "He was charming and very sweet," Ms. Escribow said. "I feel like I’ve had a personal lost. I just can’t believe it."
   She added that he had friends in different social groups.
   Brian played lacrosse and football for Hightstown High and also wrestled for the school.
   In a telephone interview Wednesday, wrestling coach Mike Russo described Brian as a "great kid."
   "We’ll always remember him as someone we could count on and as a great teammate," he said.
   Mr. Russo added that his fondest memory of Brian came during the young man’s sophomore year, when the wrestling team practiced in the cafeteria.
   "He took it upon himself to put up all the tables and sweep the floor. He did it all by himself every day," the coach said. "He was the guy that took the initiative and made sure we could practice on time every day."
   Ken Boardman, spokesman for the East Windsor Regional School District, said counselors were on hand this week at the High School, making themselves available to any students who wanted to talk.
   Brian’s page on the Web site MySpace.com was overflowing this week with messages of sorrow.
   "I can’t stress it enough how Brian was nothing short of amazing," wrote one person. "I loved being in his car. He introduced me to some amazing music, and good times. I’d be missing a big part of life if I never met this boy. I love you, Brian, with all of my heart."
   A memorial page set up for Brian on MySpace.com read, in part, "the purpose of this page is not to make anyone feel angry or resentful; it’s to shine the light on the monster(s) responsible for the transformation and later death of Brian Landry; Cocaine and Heroin."
   Inside the café, Brian’s friends took turns speaking about him on a microphone. Silence and sobs filled the air in between speakers.
   Some friends wrote poems about Brian.
   "I’ll remember the day, the day we met, the day you got me to skate, I will never forget," read one male friend. "You were a great guy, the memory we’ll keep evermore, you’ll be in everyone’s hearts until we reach heaven’s shores."
   Another male friend said he met Brian last summer when he was going to be a freshman at the high school. Brian made it easier for him to adjust, he said.
   Several friends told funny stories about Brian. One girl said that when a group of students was hanging out together on a trip to Washington, D.C., Brian was hot and exhausted, but he jumped inside a corner of a building and said, ‘Take a picture of me. I feel like a supermodel." That picture was duplicated and handed out to friends attending the gathering.
   Mr. Johnston jokingly said his son was a fan of the mirror.
   "If it wasn’t for a mirror, I don’t know what Brian would do," he said.
   Even though "he was changing his mind every single week" about what he wanted to do with his future, Mr. Johnston said that last week Brian had told him he wanted to be a firefighter like his grandfather and uncle.
   "He wanted to be heroic," Mr. Johnston said.
   The father added that Brian loved Frank Sinatra and Richard Nixon and had traveled to Bermuda and Ireland.
   "He had a full life for someone who was only 17 years old," Mr. Johnston said.
   Mr. Johnston said he can take comfort from two things.
   The day before his death, Brian spent part of the day tailgating at the Giants/Jets game with his dad, mom and younger brother Brandon Johnston.
   "We had a wonderful day," the father said.
   He also said Monday’s gathering "helped me greatly.
   "I’ve heard all those good stories. I just want to celebrate his life right now."
   Mr. Johnston said that during the gathering, one girl came up to him and said, "Thank you for raising such a good son" because Brian had stood up for her when she was being bullied, even though he did not know her.
   Another girl left a compact disc, with pictures of Brian and her taken at school, on the family’s front porch after learning of his death, Mr. Johnston added.
   "Brian touched everybody," he said.
Kyle Moylan contributed to this story.