Virginia fraternity suspended amid police investigation following death of 19-year-old student
The Delta Chi fraternity building in Virginia
((WTVR CBS 6))Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) has suspended a fraternity amid a police investigation into the death of a 19-year-old student over the weekend.
Adam Oakes, 19, a freshman student at VCU, was found dead at an off-campus residence close to the university by Richmond Police officers in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The medical examiner’s office is currently working to determine Mr Oakes’ cause of death, as part of a police investigation into the incident.
“This is a tragic loss for Adam’s family and members of our community, and we encourage any students in need of support to contact University Counselling Services,” the university said in a statement on Sunday afternoon.
Mr Oakes’ cousin, Courtney White, told ABC News that he had recently been rushed by VCU’s chapter of the Delta Chi fraternity and that this weekend was when his “big little reveal” was scheduled.
VCU confirmed that Delta Chi has been sent a cease-and-desist letter from both the fraternity’s national office and the university while police conduct an investigation into Mr Oakes’ death.
“We were devastated to learn of the death of a student at Virginia Commonwealth University and extend our condolences to the family, friends, and everyone touched by this heart-breaking news,” Delta Chi national office said in a statement on Sunday.
The fraternity organisation added: “We encourage all members to cooperate with law enforcement, investigative efforts and all directives of the University Administration.”
VCU urged students to contact Richmond Police if they have any information regarding Mr Oakes’ death or about the fraternity’s actions over the weekend.
Ms White also encouraged members of the fraternity and her cousin’s classmates to speak up, telling ABC: “Don’t be afraid, be brave,” and adding: “There is no healing from this, but it would give us a sense of what happened.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help pay for funeral costs for Mr Oakes’ family, which at the time of writing has raised more than $27,000 (£19,339).
The authors of the fundraiser page said that Mr Oakes “will live on in the hearts of all who loved him so dearly,” and added: “There will truly never be another like him.”
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