A University of Pittsburgh at Bradford student from Philadelphia was found dead in his residence hall on campus by one of his friends around 5:30 p.m. Thursday, university officials have confirmed.
Police are continuing with their investigation.
As of Thursday evening, authorities hadn’t released the cause of death of Malik Isaiah Cox, a sophomore accounting major whose age was not immediately available. Initial reports indicated Cox had gone into cardiac arrest, but that could not be immediately confirmed.
McKean County Coroner Mike Cahill was called to the Melville Residence Hall, located on campus near the Tunungwant Creek, and pronounced Cox dead. Campus officials say a cause of death won’t be determined until an autopsy and a toxicology screen are conducted, according to university spokesperson Pat Frantz Cercone. There was no word on when an autopsy would be conducted or when the toxicology report would come back.
A forensics team from the Pennsylvania State Police barracks in DuBois was called to campus to investigate the scene.
Pitt-Bradford Campus Police are investigating and are being assisted by the state police, McKean County District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer and the McKean County Coroner’s office. Attempts to reach the DA for additional information were not successful as of Thursday night.
When reached by phone Thursday night, McKean County Coroner Mike Cahill told The Era he did not want to provide the cause of death, saying he wants to notify family members first. For her part, Cercone said she did not want to be presumptuous in saying how Cox died.
Staff members from the Office of Residence Life were able to relocate the four other students living in the Melville residence-hall apartment with Cox.
Dr. Leslie Rhinehart, director of counseling services, as well as other members of the Student Affairs staff, were on campus Thursday evening to provide support to Cox’s friends and other students. The Harriett B. Wick Chapel was opened to give students a place to gather.
Meanwhile, an hour of silence and serenity is slated for noon today on campus to honor Cox’s memory.
In a note posted to the university’s Facebook page, Pitt-Bradford President Dr. Livingston Alexander said he was deeply saddened to inform the campus community of Cox’s death.
“My thoughts and prayers are with Malik’s family and friends, as well as others who have been touched by this tragic loss,” he said.
Though he did not know Cox personally, Pitt-Bradford student Kody Newkirk of Foster Township called the incident a “crying shame.”
“It’s really shocking for it to happen so close to home,” Newkirk said.
Neither authorities or Pitt-Bradford officials released any further information by press time Thursday night.
