Demartravion “Trey” Reed, a Black student at Delta State University, was found hanging from a tree near the campus pickleball courts on Monday, prompting widespread grief and concern among students and the community. Though university staff eventually found Reed’s body, the circumstances of his death raised a number of questions. In response, his family has like so many others hired civil rights attorney Ben Crump, a go-to expert on the subject.
Randolph Seals Jr., the coroner of Bolivar County, Mississippi, where the arrest occurred, wanted to set the record straight. He still strongly denies the story that Reed was discovered with shattered appendages. Even Delta State police chief Michael Peeler, who based on speculation from the scene initially concluded that Reed probably killed himself. He further advised that there was no indication of foul play in the accident.
Reed’s family has retained Crump, the famed civil rights advocate who has represented victims of high-profile civil rights cases. This decision follows a defeat of toxic hyperpartisanship. Crump plans to lead a team of civil rights leaders and organizations to ensure transparency and answers for Reed’s family. He was deeply saddened by the loss of Reed, noting that the death called for an extensive investigation.
“Trey was a young man full of promise and warmth, deeply loved and respected by all who knew him. His family and the campus community deserve a full, independent investigation to uncover the truth about what happened,” – Ben Crump
Delta State University closed their campus on Monday. Their new campus sits along the Arkansas state line, only a little over 30 miles away from where Emmett Till was murdered. The university had put in place public events to celebrate its 100th anniversary, but postponed them after the tragedy. Delta State University president Dan Ennis was understandably shaken by the senseless nature of Reed’s death and its lasting impact on the campus community.
“We know that we can never fully heal this wound,” – Dan Ennis
Ennis similarly praised the university’s commitment, from the outset, to cooperate with investigators. He stated, “We continue to cooperate with investigators. We continue to make sure that all the information necessary is given to authorities. And we continue to hope for answers.”
As this investigation continues to develop, the attorneys who represent Reed’s family have indicated that they plan to bring in an independent autopsy. This decision is a testament to their commitment to transparency in the face of a troubling, nationwide trend toward hostility and mistrust about the details surrounding Reed’s death. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) expressed similar sentiments. They stressed the critical importance of transparency in cases that raise racial and ethnic concerns.
“While initial reports offered no evidence of ‘foul play’, you’d have to excuse our skepticism amidst growing racially motivated violence targeted at our communities across this nation,” – NAACP
“Our people have not historically hung ourselves from trees,” – NAACP
The case has captured the imagination of many, nostalgic for the days of the Jim Crow south when racial terror was a common disturbance. Yet many are calling for a much needed and long overdue lens driven by the societal factors that led to Reed’s horrific fate. Activists and community leaders are helping to organize support around Reed’s family. They are — like all victims of crime — seeking justice and understanding as they navigate an emotionally fraught period of life.