Trey Reed’s Aunt calls for continuous prayers from the community
“We ask again that you continue to lift us up in your prayers,” Trey Reid’s Aunt calls for continuous prayers from the community.
This article discusses suicide and suicidal thoughts. If you or someone you know is struggling or in a crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat with 988 at 988lifeline.org.
MS – An autopsy by the Mississippi Medical Examiner’s Office concludes that a black student was found to have died from suicide when a body hanging from a tree at Delta State University died of suicide.
The results of the autopsy conducted on September 17th coincided with initial investigation and preliminary examination by the local coroner’s office, according to the Cleveland Police Department. The state’s medical inspector’s office determined that the cause of death for Demartravion “Trey” Reed was hanging and that the way he died was suicide.
“The final toxicological results are pending and may take two to four weeks to complete,” police said in a news release, saying all files and materials related to the investigation have been handed over to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Reed, 21, from Grenada, Mississippi, was hanging from a tree in the middle of Delta State’s campus, behind the Pickles Ball Court, around 7:05 a.m. on September 15th, according to university police. At the time, authorities said there was no evidence of a foul play and that he committed suicide by death.
The incident rekindled conversations about the long history of racial violence in Mississippi. Reid’s death prompted anger and skepticism about social media, prompting civil rights leaders and organizations to seek transparency and justice in their investigations.
Delta State University enrolled in the 2024-2025 academic year with over 2,600 students, with over 40% of Black people. The campus is located in Cleveland, Mississippi, just west of the county and is associated with the lynching of 14-year-old Emmett Till.
School Police Chief: There is no evidence of foul play
Delta State University President Dan Ennis and University Police Chief Michael Peeler both said at a press conference on September 15th that there was no evidence of a foul play in the case.
Peeler called the death an “isolated incident” and said there was no active threat to students or faculty. The university said several law enforcement agencies are helping to investigate the deaths.
Reid’s body was found on the university’s scheduled 100th anniversary celebration and forced to cancel classes and events for the day. In a video posted on the university’s Facebook page on September 16, Ennis said the university is reopening its business while students, faculty and staff continue to lament.
Ennis did not comment on the state autopsy report on September 18, according to Mississippi Clarion Ledger, part of the USA Today Network.
Cleveland police said on September 18 that the investigation remains ongoing and no further details will be made public at this time. The FBI previously said it was ready to investigate “when the information becomes apparent in the course of a field investigation into a potential federal violation.”
“Our thoughts and prayers will remain with Reid’s family and friends during this extremely difficult time. We want to encourage anyone who is struggling to reach out for help,” Cleveland Police Chief Travis Tribull said in a statement.
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Local Coroner Disputes make claims over death
Following the incident, rumors spread on social media claiming Reid had two broken legs, causing other injuries he would have been hanging. These speculations were contested in a statement late September 15 by Bolivar County Coroner Randolph Sil Jr.
The County Coroner’s Office was notified by the Cleveland Police Department at 7:32 a.m. local time about “unresponsive individuals” at Delta State University, according to the statement. The coroner’s office responded to the scene at 8:08am and found a “subject hanging from a tree,” the statement added.
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“Based on the preliminary examination, we can confirm that the deceased did not suffer any assault, combined fracture, fracture, or injury consistent with the attack,” the statement continued. “At this point, there is no evidence to suggest that the individual was physically attacked prior to his death.”
In a September 18 statement, Sean Tindel of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety shared the sadness of the Reed family and condemned rumors about the incident.
“I could say he was really upset.”
Jy’quon Wallace, president of the African American Student Council, said he saw Reid on September 14, hours before the tragedy was a heated debate on the phone.
“I woke up that morning and heard that I found someone hanging from a fruit tree near Blancet Hall. Who could you do,” said Wallace, 20, from Baldwin. “They said it was a red-haired black man. I thought I just saw this guy with a red-haired accessory. Then more explanation came up and it was a red-haired accessory, not a red-haired one.
Wallace said he and his roommate were out for food when he saw Reid sitting on the phone himself in front of Blancet Hall. “I asked him if he was okay,” Wallace recalled, “He looked up at me, then looked down at his phone and said nothing.
When they returned, Wallace said he and his roommates saw the lead again in the distance.
“I could say he was really upset,” Wallace recalled. “He was making gestures and acting like he was throwing things. He kicked the wall and then he raided towards Blancet Hall.
Advocates are looking for transparency and thorough investigation
Although authorities said they had found no evidence of foul play, Reid’s death prompted a call for transparency among supporters who pointed to a history of Mississippi lynching and racially motivated violence in the 19th and 20th centuries.
US Rep. Benny Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat, called for a federal investigation into Reid’s death.
“We should not turn the stones over looking for answers. The details of this incident are still emerging, but we cannot ignore the painful history of lynching and racial violence against African Americans,” Thompson said in a statement.
NAACP, the oldest civil rights organization in the United States, has also announced its response.
In a social media post on September 16, NAACP said in a photo that read “The man was lynched yesterday,” “we will have to excuse our skepticism amid racially motivated violence targeting communities across the country.”
“So, while we await a more formal autopsy report and information, we are certainly offering this history on a level. Our people have historically not hanging out of the trees,” Post further said.
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Prominent civil rights lawyers demand video evidence release
At a press conference on September 16, attorney Vanessa J. Jones said her company is representing Reid’s family and is launching its own investigation into his death, starting with an independent autopsy.
“We seek answers independently of Delta State University and the coroner’s office, and we are independent of the state coroner’s office because we need answers about what happened to Trey Reed, if necessary,” Jones said. “Did you have a camera? The university should have a camera that can easily educate you on what happened in the early hours of September 15th, 2025.”
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who handled famous cases, including the police murder of a black American, is also held by Reed’s family. Crump said in X that the family “cannot accept ambiguous conclusions when there are so many questions left.”
On September 17th, Crump requested the release of video footage in the case. The university previously recognized videos related to the investigation that had not yet been released.
“By requiring families to watch the video and allowing them to entrust an independent autopsy, we are taking every step to uncover the truth about what happened to Tray,” Crump said in a statement. “Every student deserves to feel safe where they live and learn, which is why it’s so important to reach the bottom of this tragedy.”
Crump and Jones did not immediately respond to Clarion Ledger’s request for comment on September 18th.
Contribution: Pam Dunkins, Clarion ledger, Mississippi. Reuters
