Thousand Oaks Student Remembered As 'Cool Kid' Who Loved Science

THOUSAND OAKS (CBSLA.com) — A Thousand Oaks High School student killed in a science project explosion is being remembered as a standout student, science wiz and the kind of child many parents dream of having.

Bernard Moon died Monday when he and a fellow senior classmate were experimenting with chemicals on the playground of Madrona Elementary school. They were trying to create a rocket motor to propel a skateboard forward when the blast went off, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.

The 17-year-old classmate was injured.

A vigil was held Tuesday night at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in memory of the 18-year-old.

Thousand Oaks High School asked students to wear green to school Wednesday in honor of Moon.

"He was just a cool kid. He was a nice person to around. He could make you laugh. He was just the kind of person that you would want to interact with," student Ken Zhou said.

Some friends have taken to social media to grieve.

Alissa Drucker had known Moon since elementary school and had just learned about her friend's death Tuesday morning. "He was in a scientific research class, which only a few people really get into at the school. And he loved science really," she said.

The school district will not confirm whether the two students were working on a project for the high school or for an upcoming science fair.