Will Norton, 18, killed by tornado on way home from high school graduation

Will Norton, 18, was killed by an EF5 tornado that struck Joplin last Sunday. (Photo/Norton family)

JOPLIN, Mo. – After five days of tireless searching, the family of Will Norton, 18, announced they had found their lost loved-one.

Tracey Presslor, Will’s aunt, told reporters that rescuers found Will in a pond just half a mile from his home. Will was driving home from his high school graduation at MSSU when the tornado struck. His father Mark, riding in the passenger seat, told Will to pull over. Immediately, he grabbed onto Will, but the strength of the twister pulled Will through the sunroof of his H3 Hummer and threw him across the street into a pond. Will had been reciting verses of the Bible when he was sucked out.

Mark is in the hospital with significant injuries and is being treated this week at Freeman Hospital. According to family members, his arm was severely damaged and his bicep torn from holding on so tightly to Will.

Presslor said she was “blessed” to know Will did not suffer, but was obviously distraught by the loss of her nephew.

“There’s no way you couldn’t be touched by seeing this beautiful face of this absolutely perfect child,” she said, holding a portrait of Will. “There’s so many more people out there that need your help. Please don’t give up. Joplin is a wonderful city.”

Family members said they hoped the search doesn’t stop with Will, and asked for prayers for the city.

“God has really helped us get through this,” she said. “We’re going to be okay.”

Norton, who had his pilot’s license, had just graduated from Joplin High School and was headed to film school at the prestigious Chapman University in California this fall. Norton was something of a YouTube sensation, with upwards of 2 million subscribers on his channel ‘WillDaBeast’ at YouTube.com/will.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been set, but the family is asking for privacy at this time. Because Will was a lover of animals, the family suggest people volunteer at an animal shelter in remembrance of Will before a memorial fund is established.

“The strength of this family’s character is much like this community’s: It’s very strong,” said a spokesman for the Missouri Highway Patrol.
More than 150 volunteers helped in the search for Will.

Sadly, Will’s story is not out of the ordinary. More than 140 were killed when an EF5 tornado struck Joplin last Sunday.

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