A former Roosevelt High School student and architecture major at Texas Tech, 21-year-old Zion Cook was remembered as driven, kind and full of promise.
SAN ANTONIO — The death of a promising college student whose body was found in the San Antonio River this week has left a community reeling with grief and questions.
On Monday, authorities recovered the body of 21-year-old Zion Cook in a busy section of the River Walk near Villita Street. Family members, who reported him missing Saturday, are devastated and still searching for answers.
The Bexar County Medical Examiner has not yet released Cook’s official cause or manner of death. San Antonio police said there were no obvious signs of trauma.
“He worked himself into being a great kid,” said Zion’s great-uncle, George Cook. “Outstanding young man.”
Cook was home in San Antonio after completing coursework at San Antonio College. He had recently transferred to Texas Tech University, where he was pursuing a degree in architecture.
“He texted me to say he forgot to tell me he was graduating from Tech,” George Cook said. “I joked with him, ‘You forgot to tell me you were back home too!’ That’s just how we are.”
Zion Cook graduated from Roosevelt High School and earned multiple scholarships, including a $10,000 award from the Blackbird Golf Foundation.
That’s where he met Demonte Alexander, the founder of Blackbird Golf, who quickly became a mentor and close friend.
“I saw him as one of my little brothers,” Alexander said. “He was very proactive in his education—very focused. He didn’t want to graduate without experience, so we were helping him find internships at local architecture or engineering firms.”
“Any parent would’ve been proud to call Zion their son,” he added.
The foundation now plans to name a scholarship in Zion’s honor to continue supporting students like him.
“It’s in the essence of who Zion was,” Alexander said.
Roosevelt High School Basketball Coach Carl D. Lee said the loss has added to an already painful year for the Roosevelt community.
“While I didn’t have him in my classes or on the team, he was well liked, very respectful and loved by his friends,” Lee said. “In the past nine months, we have already lost four kids to tragic incidents, not including Zion. Sadly, it feels like every year we have to deal with these difficult losses but it only brings everyone closer together.”
Outside of school, Cook worked at the Panda Express at The Forum in Selma. His coworkers launched a GoFundMe that had raised more than $7,000 by Thursday night.
In a statement, the Panda Restaurant Group said:
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of a member of our Panda Family, Zion Cook. Our hearts go out to his family, friends and fellow Panda colleagues during this difficult time, and we extend our sincerest condolences to all grieving this tragic loss. Out of respect for Zion’s family and friends, we will not comment further at this time.”
As investigators continue their work, family members and mentors hope that keeping Zion’s name alive—through scholarships and storytelling—will ensure the young man’s legacy lives on.