Student Behind Viral Laser Cat Yearbook Meme Dead from Suicide

The high school student who became an internet sensation after successfully lobbying to have his yearbook picture include his pet cat and graphics of shooting lasers, has died.

Times Union reports that 17-year-old Draven Rodriguez, committed suicide. Rodriguez was a senior at Schenectady High School, in Schenectady, NY. His family did not say how he killed himself.

Rodriguez was born Oct. 6, 1997. From a young age he exhibited the kind of independence that would lead someone to lobby their high school for a yearbook portrait that included lasers and cats. At the age of 9 he died his hair green for a time. His parents told him he could keep the look as long as he kept up his grades.

Rodriguez had a number of diverse interests which included computers, the guitar, and learning how to cook barbeque. Those who knew him said that he was one of the most dedicated people they knew. They said that when he set his mind to a task, he would persist until his goal was reached. The story of Rodriguez and the cat and laser portrait confirms this.  

Rodriguez knew that he would have a tough time convincing his high school's administration to allow him to have his official picture with the cat and lasers, so he sought to overcome this obstacle by circulating the image on the internet. His goal was to subject the school to so much outside pressure they would have no choice but to comply.

Rodriguez was more or less successful. Although his official portrait could not include the cats and lasers, his principal, Diane Wilkinson, came up with a compromise. Wilkinson and Rodriguez both posed for a portrait with their pets, and lasers. The image will be part of a page about how important it is to rescue animals from shelters.