- Christian Samay, 22, was pronounced dead at the Lewisburg campus of the Pennsylvania Liberal Arts College at 1:50 p.m. Saturday.
- The death was announced to the students just hours after they emerged from lockdown following a false report of an active shooter the night before
- College President John C. Bravman said the incidents were not related and that Samay’s death is “not suspicious.”
A student community is reeling after a popular young senior was found dead on campus just hours after it was shut down by a hoax active shooter alarm.
Politics student Christian Samay, 22, was pronounced dead Saturday at his dorm at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania in what university authorities said was an isolated incident.
It remains unclear how the young student died.
The top liberal arts college was on spring break two weeks ago, so the Lewisburg campus was teeming with students when news spread of Samay’s death at 1:50 p.m.
“Our student body is truly shaken from the past 24 hours,” student Amaya Becker wrote on Facebook.
‘Nothing has been set in stone at this time, but the students are currently organizing their own vigil on the campus square in his memory.’
Christian Samay had spent three summers working as an intern at investment banks and was weeks away from graduating when he was found dead Saturday at Bucknell University.
Samay (third from left) was treasurer of the university’s Phi Gamma Delta society and was routinely pictured with his friends on the fraternity’s Instagram page
University students had enjoyed their spring break two weeks ago and the campus was packed with students when news of Samay’s death broke over Easter weekend.
The young man from Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, had spent three summers working as an intern at investment banks and was just weeks away from graduating when the tragedy occurred.
He was the serving treasurer of the university’s Phi Gamma Delta society and his body was discovered by university staff on the fraternity’s grounds.
“This is an unspeakable loss for the Bucknell community, and our hearts go out to Christian’s family and friends,” university President John C. Bravman said in a letter to students and staff.
“I would like to note that his death was not related to last night’s active shooter alert and campus lockdown, and the circumstances are not suspicious.
“I urge all Bucknellians to support each other during this difficult time, and keep Christian’s family in your prayers.”
Students sought safety when an alert was issued at 6:37 p.m. Friday and the university posted an alert on its Facebook page.
“Bucknell Public Safety is responding to reports of an active shooter,” it wrote.
‘The campus is locked. All students, employees and visitors are instructed to take shelter until further notice.’
It took more than 45 minutes before the alarm was lifted and police confirmed there was no immediate danger or threat to the community.
“Following a State Police investigation, the call was determined to be a hoax coordinated from Virginia,” said Mike Ferlazzo, Bucknell Director of Media Relations.
News of Samay’s death spread across campus just hours after students emerged from lockdown following a hoax active shooter alert
College President John C. Bravman confirmed the sad news in a letter to staff and students later that day
The college in rural Pennsylvania is home to 3,700 students, ranks 81st among colleges in the nation according to the latest Wall Street Journal, and counts novelist Philip Roth among its alumni.
Members of Samay’s Phi Gamma Delta fraternity had just hosted their annual Shea Invitational Bowling Tournament in memory of member Christopher Shea, who was just 20 when he died suddenly at home in Glen Cove, New York, in April 2016.
Monday’s classes were canceled after Samay’s death, and counselors and campus chaplains were also made available to students.
Union County Coroner Dominick Adamo said an investigation into Samay’s death is ongoing and an autopsy will be conducted Tuesday.