A Ramona, Calif., high school student who turned 16 on Wednesday died after being hit in the chest with a softball during a physical education class, officials confirmed.

The teen -- identified as Taylor Dorman by friends, fellow students and Ramona High School principal Tony Newman -- collapsed on a school field after being struck by a ball just before 11:30 a.m. local time (2:30 p.m. ET).

Newman confirmed that Wednesday was the 10^th-grader's birthday.

Dorman was airlifted to Palomar Hospital. Details on the teen’s condition at the time of his transport to the hospital were not immediately released.

The San Diego County medical examiner’s office will determine Dorman's official cause of death at a later time, as well as confirm whether possible contributing medical conditions played a role in his death.

On Wednesday night some students gathered at Ramona High School to mourn the sudden loss of their classmate. Students signed a memorial poster for Dorman and placed flowers near the poster.

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Last May, an 18-year-old student at Mission Hills High School in San Marcos, Calif., died suddenly after collapsing in the school gym.

In that instance, senior football star Anthony Vaeao was playing basketball with friends when he fell to the ground. He was rushed to hospital and was pronounced dead a short time later.

In August 2012, a report released by the medical examiner’s office determined Vaeao's cause of death stemmed from a heart problem, with obesity listed as a contributing factor.

A father shot his estranged wife to death and then killed himself during his daughter's 16th birthday party, police said. 

The shootings happened outside the front door of the teen’s grandparents’ house in Grapevine, Texas, late Saturday.

Kristi Suckla, 44, had moved to her parents’ house with her teenage son and daughter after the couple separated.

Grapevine police said her husband Kelly Suckla, 43, came over to the house Saturday night for the birthday party.

An argument broke out and investigators said Suckla then shot and killed his estranged wife with a handgun before taking his own life.

The children and grandparents were inside the home and were not physically hurt.

The couple previously lived in Euless, Texas. Neighbor Donell Arseneau took the news with tears.

"They would just come over and we'd visit and I'd been over there a few times," Arseneau said.  "They'd have little parties on the weekends.  They had just recently separated.  Kristi hadn't been staying over there (at her parents) but for just a few weeks."

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Arseneau said they had recently celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary.  

"They just got along so well so even when she moved to her parents, I just figured she'd be back in a little while,” she added.

Grapevine police detectives said they were continuing their investigation but called the deaths a murder-suicide.

A Chicago boy was beaten to death Friday on what family members said was his fourth birthday.

Christopher Valdez died at his home near 51st and South Trumbull Avenue, in the city's South Side. A police spokesman said it's believed the boy died of blunt force trauma.

"My niece's boyfriend beat the baby to death, and I don't know exactly what happened. I've never even met the man," said Steven Valdez, the boy's great uncle.

Another uncle said he arrived at the home with a birthday cake for the youngster immediately after the incident. He said he restrained the boyfriend until police arrived.

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The boyfriend, who was described as anti-social and violent, is in police custody. Family members said the boyfriend two weeks ago severely beat a dog for relieving himself in the home. They said they're in shock that a grown man could take out so much anger on a child.

"I just can't understand how anybody could do that," said Santiago Valdez, the boy's great-grandfather. "I just can't. It's just a shock to me."