‘I am in agony’: Mom remembers Sac State student who died after medical issue at Kings game
.jpg "Gregorio “Greg” Florez Breedlove, 34, smiles with his mother, Janet Florez, at a Sacramento Kings game in March. He died Monday after suffering a medical emergency Sacramento Kings game at the Golden 1 Center.")
A Sacramento State student who died after he suffered a medical emergency during Monday’s Kings game was a loving person whose main goal in life was to help others and who aspired to a career working with athletes, according to his family.
Gregorio “Greg” Florez Breedlove, 34, died Monday after medical professionals began administering CPR at the 18,000-seat Golden 1 Center in downtown Sacramento, as the Kings were hosting the New Orleans Pelicans in a nationally televised game. The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office confirmed Breedlove’s death Tuesday.
“I am in agony,” said Janet Florez, 69, during a phone interview. She rushed to Sacramento from the Central Coast after learning her only son had died.
The mother and son were “very, very close,” Florez said. His last words to her were, “I love you,” while speaking on the phone before Monday’s game, she said.
“And I said, ‘Well, take care of yourself, OK,’” Florez said she told her son. “And, he goes, ‘Yeah, I will, Mom. Don’t worry.’”
Breedlove attended the game with his friend, who saw everything happen, Florez said. The friend saw Breedlove sitting normally one minute and slumped over the next, Florez said. The friend then ran to get help, she said.
“EMS immediately responded and administered CPR,” the Kings said in a statement. “Tragically, these efforts were unsuccessful and the guest passed away. The organization offers its deepest condolences to the guest’s family and loved ones.”
The Sacramento State senior was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation months ago, Florez said. It’s a common type of heart arrhythmia in which the upper and lower heart chambers either beat too slowly, quickly or irregularly, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. His cause of death remains unknown.
Breedlove, who was born in Bakersfield and lived in nearby Shafter for his early life, grew up in San Luis Obispo County. After attending Arroyo Grande High School, Breedlove worked in retail, Florez said. She recalled her son could sell anything as long as it was a good product.
Breedlove got his massage therapist license before attending Sacramento State and wanted to work with athletes, Florez said.
After attending Sacramento State for three years, Breedlove was scheduled to graduate in May, his mother said. He would have earned his bachelor’s degree in nutrition, food and dietetics and then planned to go to chiropractic school.
All his prior life experiences were falling “into place for him … in terms of helping athletes,” Florez said.
Her son’s favorite basketball team was the Boston Celtics, but his love for the Kings grew while attending Sacramento State, Florez said.
“He rooted for the Kings — as long as they weren’t playing the Celtics,” Florez said.
But his legacy, Florez said, was his loving and helpful nature.
Breedlove served as a positive role model for his many nieces and nephews, she added. He treated his close group of tight-knit friends and family with love.
“He impacted my life because he brought me so much joy,” Florez said. “He loved me so much. We were like two peas in a pod.”
The Kings and players expressed their condolences after Breedlove’s death.
“The organization offers its deepest condolences to the guest’s family and loved ones,” the Kings said in a statement provided to The Sacramento Bee.
“We weren’t aware of that at all,” Kings forward Keegan Murray said after the game. “As a team, we give our condolences to the passing ... Hopefully, the family is being taken care of.”
Kings guard Malik Monk shared his sympathies on social media following the game, tweeting: “Heard the news about the fan tonight my condolences goes out to the family.”
Florez, Breedlove’s mother, shared a link to the GoFundMe for funeral expenses.
This story was originally published December 5, 2023 at 2:13 PM.
