A tragic story is unfolding in Cleveland, Mississippi. A 21-year-old Black student named Trey Reed was found hanging from a tree in the central part of the Delta State University campus earlier this week. The school immediately shut down campus operations to begin an investigation into the cause of death.
Authorities have so far ruled it a suicide. During a press conference, the county coroner emphasized there were no signs of foul play, and rumors about broken limbs were addressed directly. The coroner stated that both he and his deputy saw no indication of any broken bones.
Delta State University is a predominantly white institution with approximately 52 percent white and 36 percent Black students. Given the racial history of the American South, the visual and emotional impact of this case has caused outrage, concern, and a renewed conversation about how suicide is investigated when the victim is Black.
This case continues to raise questions, and many people in the community and online are demanding transparency and accountability as the investigation continues.