The family of a 21-year-old Black student who was found hanging from a tree on a university campus in Mississippi is demanding answers after his death was ruled a suicide by the state medical examiner.
The body of Demartravion “Trey” Reed was found on Delta State University’s campus in Cleveland by police on Monday. His death sparked outrage and allegations about the manner of his death circulated online, despite officials saying there was no evidence of foul play.
An autopsy conducted by the Mississippi State Medical Examiner determined that Reed’s death was a suicide, police said in a news release Thursday, NBC affiliate WLBT reported.
Reed’s family is now seeking an independent autopsy “after receiving conflicting accounts and incomplete information about the circumstances of his death,” according to their attorney, Ben Crump. Crump announced on Friday that Colin Kaepernick’s “Know Your Rights Camp Autopsy Initiative” will cover the cost of the autopsy.
“Trey’s death evoked the collective memory of a community that has suffered a historic wound over many, many years and many, many deaths,” Crump said in a statement. “Peace will come only by getting to the truth.”
The autopsy will happen once Reed’s body is released by the state medical examiner, according to Crump.
The family is not alone in its call for a larger investigation into Reed’s death.
Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., called for a federal investigation into Reed’s death earlier this week.
“We must leave no stone unturned in the search for answers,” Thompson said in a statement. “While the details of this case are still emerging, we cannot ignore Mississippi’s painful history of lynching and racial violence against African Americans.”
Delta University students are also looking for answers. Kolby Horace, 21, a senior studying sports management, told NBC News on Wednesday he did not know what to believe.
“I just want justice. I don’t know what it is, but I want the truth to come out,” he said. “I just want to know what the real answer is.”
On Tuesday, university President Dan Ennis said they are cooperating with investigators and meeting with Reed’s family.
“We give them our love and support, and we know that we can never fully heal this wound,” Ennis said. “None of us will fully heal, but we have to go on, and so we’re going on on this campus as best we can.”
Crump demanded all video footage in the investigation into Reed’s death in a statement issued Wednesday.
“Trey’s family deserves answers they can trust. We cannot accept rushed conclusions when the stakes are this high,” Crump said in the statement. “By demanding the family be allowed to view any video and commissioning an independent autopsy, we are taking every step to uncover the truth about what happened to Trey.”
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.
Nicole Duarte contributed.
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