Trey Reed, a Black Student at Delta State University, Was Found Hanging From a Tree, Officials Say No Evidence of Foul Play, But the Community Is Demanding Answers

The death of 21-year-old Demartravion “Trey” Reed, a student at Delta State University, has sent shockwaves across Mississippi and the broader Black college community. Reed’s body was discovered hanging from a tree near the pickleball courts on campus Monday morning, prompting an immediate outpouring of grief, disbelief, and calls for transparency.

While officials have stated there is no current evidence of foul play, many online are not convinced.

University Police Chief Michael Peeler confirmed Reed’s identity during a press conference Monday and said the investigation is being supported by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, local law enforcement, and the Bolivar County Coroner’s Office. According to ABC7, Coroner Randolph Seals reported that no visible injuries consistent with an assault were found during the preliminary examination.

“We can confirm that the deceased did not suffer any lacerations, contusions, compound fractures, broken bones, or injuries consistent with an assault,” Seals said via Facebook according to NBC News.

Despite these findings, public skepticism has been swift and vocal, rooted in both recent and historical mistrust surrounding how the deaths of young Black men, particularly those found hanging, are investigated and reported in the South.

The NAACP, weighing in with a powerful and chilling statement, posted the following:

That statement alone speaks volumes about the intensity of public emotion surrounding this case.

Attorney Ben Crump took to Instagram and posted the following statement:

According to NBC News, Delta State University, a campus of approximately 2,700 students, canceled classes Monday and hosted a prayer vigil that evening, drawing hundreds of students who gathered to mourn Trey Reed and support one another.

As of now, Reed’s family has not made a public statement. Social media is filled with messages of frustration and solidarity under hashtags like #JusticeForTrey, as well as comparisons to past cases where Black men were ruled to have died by suicide under similar circumstances—cases that still leave communities with questions and pain.