Marrero, La. -
A father who tried to save his daughter from their burning house in Marrero last week is still in ICU. He doesn't know his child died on Monday.
15-year-old Diante Snowton was a popular Xavier Prep sophomore. Her death after the West Bank fire has left a void at the Uptown campus.
"Diante was a model student, one of the best students I've ever had," said English teacher Marcy Guillory.
There is a desk with Diante's name on it in her classroom, reserved in the student's honor.
"When I found out she passed, I cried," said student Dominique Lee. "I felt half of me went with her. She was my best friend."
Teddy bears guard a makeshift memorial at the Snowtons' Meyers Boulevard home that fire ravaged Thursday night. Diante, her mom and her five siblings were inside. Diante was in her upstairs bedroom when the fire broke out and eventually grew out of control.
Family members say she tried to escape from a window but couldn't. Her father, Gerald Snowton, tried to get to her but was overtaken by smoke and fire.
Band director Lester Singleton is trying to stay busy. Diante played mellophone in his ensemble, but his loss runs much deeper -- Diante was his granddaughter.
"I take her home after school and when I'm driving it's difficult. I look at the seat and she's not there," Singleton told us.
Her instrument sits at the front of the class as a tribute.
"She may not be with us physically but she'll always be with us spiritually." Janay Major said. "It was her time and God needed an angel and she was the perfect one."
A family photo of Diante Snowton
