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Ohio State graduation death: Here’s what we know

Published

6 months ago

May 7, 2024

OSU Police cordoned off the scene after one person died falling from Ohio Stadium during the OSU graduation ceremony Sunday, May 5, 2024.

Ohio State College and its police division launched little new details about a dying that occurred throughout Sunday’s graduation ceremony after somebody fell from Ohio Stadium.

Officers with each the college and the Franklin County Coroner’s Workplace haven’t confirmed whether or not the dying was an accident or a deliberate act.

Whereas the stunning dying has left extra questions than solutions, this is what we all know as of early Monday.

What occurred at OSU commencement?

Round 12:30 p.m., an individual fell from Ohio Stadium’s stands close to the Bell Tower simply as among the final graduates filtered into the stadium by way of a tunnel, in response to college officers and an eyewitness.

“A person fell from the stands. They’re deceased,” OSU spokesman Ben Johnson mentioned Sunday within the college’s preliminary affirmation of the dying. “We’ve no extra particulars to share right now. Police and emergency responders are on scene. For anybody affected by at present’s incident, we’ll make counseling and different assist assets obtainable.”

The graduation continued uninterrupted as information of the dying unfold via the group. College students leaving the ceremony walked previous the world the place the physique fell nonetheless cordoned off by yellow crime scene tape.

Who died after falling at Ohio Stadium?

Police and college officers launched no extra details about the dying as of 8 a.m. Monday. Johnson mentioned Monday morning that the college couldn’t launch particulars concerning the identification of the one who fell, together with age, gender or whether or not the individual was a scholar.

The Franklin County coroner’s workplace mentioned Monday that it’s nonetheless attempting to find out the sufferer’s identification.

The place did the accident occur?

Police taped off an space on the southeast aspect of Ohio Stadium Sunday, close to gate 30 the place Ohio State soccer gamers enter the stadium. The incident occurred close to a tunnel that college students used to enter the stadium for the ceremony that’s usually reserved for OSU soccer gamers throughout house video games.

How did college students react?

“No means — that is unbelievable,” one eyewitness mentioned.

The witness, who requested to not be recognized, mentioned they noticed somebody fall and it occurred simply because the final graduates submitting previous that space as they entered the stadium.

A Dispatch reporter attending the ceremony mentioned that different attendees and a few college students at graduation have been visibly upset as information of the dying started to unfold via information organizations and social media.