CLEVELAND, Mississippi – Delta State University is reeling after the discovery early Monday morning of the body of 21-year-old student Demartravion “Trey” Reed of Grenada, Mississippi, hanging from a tree on campus. University officials, law enforcement, and members of Reed’s family are calling for answers even as authorities say there is no evidence of foul play at this time.
Delta State University Police Chief Michael Peeler reported that Reed was found just after 7 a.m. Monday near the pickleball courts in the central part of campus (Mississippi Free Press). The university identified him as a 21-year-old student whose presence touched peers and faculty alike (WAPT). In a statement, Delta State President Daniel Ennis expressed that the community is “deeply saddened by this loss” and extended condolences to Reed’s family, friends, and all affected (WAPT).
Authorities including the Cleveland Police Department, the Bolivar County Sheriff’s Office, and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation are assisting in the investigation (WAPT). The Bolivar County Coroner’s Office retrieved Reed’s body and medical examinations are ongoing. Pending autopsy results, no definitive cause has been released (KBTX).
At present, no evidence of foul play has been found according to authorities (Mississippi Free Press). Deputy Coroner Murray Roark, who assisted in the medical examination, noted there were no broken arms or legs observed (Mississippi Free Press). Roark added that his opinion is that it was self-done though he acknowledged the case remains under active investigation.
The campus canceled classes and postponed scheduled events including its centennial celebrations in the wake of the tragedy (WAPT). Counseling services were made available to students and staff as grief rippled across the community (KBTX). Yet Reed’s family and many students are not satisfied with the early conclusions and say more transparency is needed (WAPT).
For many, the discovery of a young Black student hanging from a tree in 2025 is more than a tragedy. It evokes the painful history of lynchings in America and stirs deep mistrust when officials are quick to suggest suicide without releasing full evidence. Students, particularly Black students, have voiced fear and outrage, noting that the incident cannot be separated from the larger racial history of the South (TheGrio).
Unconfirmed claims on social media have alleged possible assault or injuries inconsistent with suicide, although officials have not verified these reports (Economic Times). What is certain is that the Reed family has been vocal, with one relative writing, “What’s done in Dark will come in Light,” demanding truth and accountability in the days ahead.
The death of Demartravion “Trey” Reed must not be dismissed or minimized. The symbolism of a Black man found hanging from a tree in the South cannot be brushed aside. History has shown that silence, quick dismissals, and vague answers only deepen wounds and distrust. This moment calls for full transparency, an independent release of autopsy findings, and inclusion of the family in every stage of the process. Communities across the country should be disturbed that in 2025, such an image exists at all, and the narrative we are asked to accept is that a young Black student simply took his own life without any deeper inquiry.
Reed’s death is both a tragedy and a wake-up call. Whether it was suicide or something more, the unanswered questions and the legacy of America’s past mean the community cannot afford complacency. Demartravion “Trey” Reed’s name deserves to be spoken, his story deserves truth, and his family deserves justice.
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