Community honors Thousand Oaks teen who died from flu-related complications

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (KABC) -- Parents and students gathered for a prayer vigil Friday at a Thousand Oaks high school to honor a student who died from complications of the flu.

On Thursday night, La Reina High School and Middle School officials sent out an email saying that Gabriella Chabot, 14, had died.

Her father, Michael Chabot, described her as a "beautiful and amazing girl." He wrote a Facebook post honoring his beloved daughter.

The community grieved her passing Friday night at the all-girls Catholic school.

"Just totally shocked. How does someone 14 get the flu this bad? She's a healthy beautiful girl so my thoughts are, 'wow, how bad is this flu?' It's serious," Moorpark resident Sharon Hobbie said.

Chabot would have turned 15 on Feb. 16.

School officials thanked the community for the outpouring of support in the wake of the tragedy.