America’s Got Talent pays tribute to season 19 contestant Emily Gold after her sudden passing at the age of 17.

In a post on Facebook, the hit NBC competition show said: “The AGT The family sends our deepest condolences to Emily Gold’s family, friends and team members. She was a bright young soul and will be greatly missed.”

Gold, a dancer from Los Osos High School and contestant at America’s Got Talent Season 19, committed suicide on the evening of September 13, the San Bernardino Coroner’s Office confirmed to PEOPLE on September 16.

The tragedy occurred just weeks after Gold and her high school dance team competed on the NBC talent show and received a standing ovation in the quarterfinals before being eliminated in August.

A spokesman for the San Bernardino County Medical Examiner’s Office told PEOPLE that Gold was found dead at 11:52 p.m. on Sept. 13; he had committed suicide.

In a statement provided to PEOPLE, California Highway Patrol spokesman Rodrigo Jimenez said that “officers from the Rancho Cucamonga area of ​​the California Highway Patrol responded to a pedestrian who had fallen on the roadway.”

“When officers arrived, they found a 17-year-old female who had been struck by at least one other vehicle in the carpool lane of 210 eastbound,” Jimenez said. “The woman succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.”

Following the tragedy, Gold’s dance team released a statement on Instagram on September 16, remembering their “beautiful, kind and loving” friend and teammate.

“Emily always embodied every aspect of our core team values ​​through her strength, dedication, kindness, compassion and human heart,” they wrote in the post. “She will be remembered by her teammates as a leader, role model, friend and sister.”

“Our sweet, sweet Emily – we love you endlessly and miss you more than words can ever express. Everything we do, we do for you, our beautiful angel,” the team added, before writing in the caption, “We thank everyone for the love and support during this time of grief and just ask that you please keep the Gold family in your thoughts and prayers. ✨”

Chaffey Joint Union High School District Superintendent Dr. Mat Holton also spoke out about Gold’s tragic death, telling PEOPLE in a statement: “The Chaffey Joint Union High School District community is deeply saddened by the tragic death of Emily Gold, a senior at Los Osos High School. Emily was a valued member of the Los Osos High School campus and was loved by her peers and teachers. The district and school are making on-site grief counselors and therapists available to any student who may need support during this difficult time. We extend our deepest condolences to Emily’s family and loved ones.”

After her performance on AGT On August 13, Gold told PEOPLE about her time on stage: “When I perform, I really think about all the corrections, because we get corrections up until five minutes before our performance. So my biggest priority on stage is to really think about all of those things so we can apply them.”

When asked how she spent her high school years performing in AGT, She said: “It’s definitely difficult to juggle everything, but we’re doing it.”

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Gold’s relatives have now set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for the dancer’s family.

“It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our Los Osos Grizzly Emily Gold,” the fundraiser said. “Let’s come together as a community and support the Gold family during this difficult time. Please know that this money will go directly to the family to support them and help with expenses.”

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, texting “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741, or going to 988lifeline.org.