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Cleveland, Mississippi—The Delta State University campus is reeling after the discovery of 21-year-old student Demartravion “Trey” Reed’s body found hanging from a tree near the campus pickleball courts Monday morning. University police Chief Michael Peeler confirmed the death and stated that preliminary findings show no evidence of foul play. Despite this, classes were cancelled Monday, and the campus community held a prayer vigil Monday night.
The death has ignited a firestorm on social media, with many questioning the circumstances and demanding justice for Reed. The NAACP expressed skepticism, citing a history of racially motivated violence and lynchings in the United States, particularly in Mississippi. The organization emphasized the unlikelihood of suicide by hanging in the Black community’s historical context.
Renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump, retained by the Reed family, announced an independent investigation into the death. Crump stated, “We cannot accept vague conclusions when so many questions remain,” and pledged to seek transparency and answers for the family.
Bolivar County Coroner Randolph Seals addressed online rumors of injuries on Reed’s body, stating that a preliminary examination revealed no signs of lacerations, contusions, fractures, or any injuries consistent with an assault. The FBI’s Jackson, Mississippi, office confirmed its readiness to assist if local authorities suspect a federal crime. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is also assisting campus police in the ongoing investigation.
Delta State University President Daniel Ennis expressed his condolences to Reed’s family and emphasized the university’s support for students, faculty, and staff during this difficult time. Counseling services are being made available to the university community.
This tragic event echoes similar cases in Mississippi where families of Black men found hanged have disputed official rulings of suicide, suspecting lynching instead. These families point to the state’s history of racial violence, including the infamous 1955 lynching of Emmett Till. Reed’s family has not yet released a public statement.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.