16-year-old from Guatemala killed at Mississippi poultry plant where three workers have died since 2020

A 16-year-old boy was killed at the Mississippi poultry plant where he worked — despite underage labor laws restricting the factory from employing anyone under 18 over dangerous work conditions.

Duvan Tomas Perez, a middle schooler who migrated to the US from Guatemala six years ago, died Friday at the Mar-Jac Poultry plant in Hattiesburg after he got caught in a machine he was cleaning, according to the New York Times.

“Two times he began to scream, ‘Help! Help!’” a coworker told NBC News.

“I knew he had died.”

It remains unclear exactly how Perez was killed. An autopsy report will be released next week, Forest County Coroner Butch Benedict told the Guardian.

Labor laws in Mississippi restrict children under 18 from working at poultry plants due to the associated dangers. Following Perez’s death, the Department of Labor and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration have launched investigations into the Mar-Jac plant, according to NBC.

Mar-Jac could face more than $30,000 in fines if found guilty of violating child labor laws.

The accident was the third death at the plant in as many years.

In December 2020, a 33-year-old man died after he was injured “while horse-playing with machinery in the facility,” according to the Hattiesburg American.

A 48-year-old died after being injured by heavy equipment at the plant in June 2021.

“Our employees are our most valuable asset and safety is our number one priority,” Mar-Jac Poultry plant manager Joe Colee told NBC in a statement. “We strive daily to work as safely as possible and are truly devastated whenever an employee is injured.

“Any issues identified in the investigation will be corrected immediately,” he added.

The company did not respond to requests for comment from The Post.

Perez’s family were devastated by his death.

“We’re very sad,” a relative told NBC.

“He was generous, smiley and very fun and very responsible at work.”