The Delta State University community in Cleveland, Mississippi, is reeling after the body of 21-year-old Demartravion “Trey” Reed was found hanging from a tree on campus early Monday morning.
University Police Chief Michael Peeler confirmed that officers responded at approximately 7:05 a.m. to the scene near the school’s pickleball courts, where Reed’s body was discovered.
“Our community is deeply saddened by this loss, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to families and friends and all those who were impacted by Trey’s loss,” said DSU President Daniel J. Ennis, who added that he has personally spoken with Reed’s family to express the university’s grief.
The news has shaken the campus, where African American students make up about 36% of the student body. Online discussions have drawn comparisons to lynching due to the region’s painful history, but Chief Peeler noted that the circumstances remain under investigation by the Cleveland Police Department, Mississippi Bureau of Investigations, and the Bolivar County Sheriff’s Office.
“As of this time, there’s no evidence of foul play,” Peeler said, adding that the Bolivar County Coroner’s Office retrieved Reed’s body for further examination. Deputy Coroner Murray Roark, who assisted in the medical review, stated there were no signs of broken limbs and suggested the case pointed toward self-harm, though the investigation remains active.
The tragedy has sparked both mourning and calls for patience as Reed’s family asks for privacy. A woman identifying herself as a relative, LaShay Reed, urged on Facebook for the public not to share disturbing videos circulating online, writing, “On behalf of respect for our Family please please!! don’t do no Post no videos or anything… Just keep us In yall Prayers REED Family / Tillman Family.”
Classes and campus activities were canceled following the discovery, though the university did not go into lockdown. President Ennis stressed that Delta State remains committed to the safety and support of its students, calling the loss “heavy to our campus.”