Black student found hanging from a tree in Mississippi

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Delta State University on Wednesday, there were few signs of the tragedy that befell the campus this week and disrupted the beginning of a new school year.

"Welcome back" banners from the Chamber of Commerce and campaign signs for students running for homecoming court were staked in the grass.

Students had been back on campus just shy of a month when the body of Demartravion “Trey” Reed, a 21-year-old Black student, was found hanging from a tree on campus Monday.

Reed's death has ignited calls for justice and online speculation that he was the victim of a lynching, even though authorities have said there was no evidence of foul play.

Families of other Black men who have been found hanging in Mississippi and were determined to have died by suicide are also questioning their official causes of death.

They say they believe their loved ones were victims of lynchings in a state with a history of racially motivated violence, including the 1955 lynching of 14-year-old Emmett Till.

Reed’s family has not publicly commented on his death, except through attorneys.

Meara Brown, who was on campus Wednesday to visit her younger sister, who recently transferred to Delta State, said she understands the feelings people are having about Reed's death.

“Just given the historical significance of trees, Black men and ropes — there's just something about it to me that isn’t right,” she said.

Bolivar County Coroner Randolph Seals Jr. said in a statement Wednesday that his office is conducting a “thorough” death investigation.

He echoed other officials’ comments and said a preliminary examination showed no evidence that Reed was physically attacked. More details will be released after the Mississippi State Crime Lab conducts an autopsy, Seals said.

At the campus, Kolby Horace, 21, a senior studying sports management, said he did not know what to believe.

Mtume Mathews, 20, and Jy’quon Wallace, 20, the president and vice president, respectively, of the university’s African American Student Council, said they had discussed organizing a vigil for Reed amid calls by students for more information.