Family of Black student found hanging from a tree in Mississippi demands answers

Delta State University said an autopsy is being conducted on the body of Demartravion “Trey” Reed, the 21-year-old Black student found hanging from a tree.

CLEVELAND, Miss.— At Delta State University on Wednesday, there were few signs of the tragedy that befell the campus this week and disrupted the beginning of a new school year.

"Welcome back" banners from the Chamber of Commerce and campaign signs for students running for homecoming court were staked in the grass.

Students had been back on campus just shy of a month when the body of Demartravion “Trey” Reed, a 21-year-old Black student, was found hanging from a tree on campus Monday.

Reed's death has ignited calls for justice and online speculation that he was the victim of a lynching, even though authorities have said there was no evidence of foul play.

Families of other Black men who have been found hanging in Mississippi and were determined to have died by suicide are also questioning their official causes of death.