37-year-old ABC News executive producer dies 'suddenly' of heart attack (UPDATED)

UPDATE, 3:05 p.m. Feb. 9: ABC News' Dax Tejera died from choking amid "acute alcohol intoxication," USA Today reported — not of a heart attack as the news network originally indicated in December.

Original story below

A 37-year-old ABC News executive producer died "suddenly" of a heart attack Friday, according to the Hollywood Reporter, which cited a memo from the president of the news network.

What are the details?

Dax Tejera was executive producer of the ABC News Sunday public affairs program "This Week," the Reporter noted.

Here's the Saturday memo to ABC News staff from Kim Godwin, president of the news network, according to the magazine:

ABC News Family,

It’s with a heavy heart and great sadness that we share that our friend and colleague, Dax Tejera passed away suddenly of a heart attack last night.

As EP of “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” Dax’s energy, passion and love for that show, ABC News, and you, shined every Sunday morning. That same love was extended to his precious girls.

Our thoughts are with his wife, Veronica, the couple’s two young daughters, and the entire Tejera family.

If you need immediate support, please call our 24/7EAP support line.
We will share more details in the coming days.

On this Christmas Eve, hug your loved ones a little tighter. And please lean on each another.

#oneabcnews

Kim

Congressional correspondent Rachel Scott reported on Tejera's death and said he "will be deeply missed by all of us here at ABC News":

The Reporter said Tejera was a veteran news producer at both ABC and NBC News and had led "This Week" — anchored by George Stephanopoulos, Jonathan Karl, and Martha Raddatz — since just before the COVID-19 outbreak.

The magazine added that Tejera joined ABC News in 2017 as a senior producer based in Washington, D.C., and prior to that was executive producer of Jorge Ramos’ program for the ABC-Univision program Fusion and also worked as an MSNBC producer.

The Reporter said Tejera was known for his "competitive spirit, pushing the 'This Week' team to become the top Sunday public affairs show."