Duquesne running back Marquis Brown dies after alleged jump from 16th-floor window

A college football player died after jumping from a 16th-story window Thursday night.

Oct 6, 2018
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In a tragedy raising questions in Pittsburgh and nationwide, Duquesne University football player Marquis Brown made a fatal jump Thursday from a 16th-story dorm window, authorities are telling various news organizations.

University president Ken Gormley told the campus community in a statement on Duquesne’s Facebook page that Brown, 21, jumped out of the window at Brottier Hall as police arrived in response to a disturbance. He was pronounced dead at Mercy Hospital, according to Gormley’s statement.

“Please join me in praying for Marquis, his family, and his many friends and teammates during this time of great sadness for the entire campus community,” Gormley said in the statement. “May he rest in peace.”

Brown was a junior from Washington, D.C., who’d graduated from DeMatha Catholic High School in Maryland. Brown was enrolled at Duquesne’s McAnulty College of Liberal Arts.

Classmate and friend Eric Williams Jr. told the Associated Press he’d just seen Brown.

“He was at my apartment,” Williams said. “I just saw him 30 or 40 minutes before. So it is just shocking … It’s crazy.”

A memorial service was planned for Brown on campus on Sunday. He’d made his debut with the Dukes earlier this year in a game against Lock Haven University.

Elijah Brooks, Brown’s former coach at DeMatha, posted the sad news on Twitter on Friday.

“The DeMatha family is mourning the loss of Marquis ‘Jaylen’ Brown ’16,” Brooks tweeted. “Prayers are requested for his family during this difficult time. We love you JB! #OneDeMathaForever.”

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According to USA Today,—without identifying Brown— Pittsburgh police said in a press release that they are investigating the incident.

The release noted police responded at 10:31 p.m. Thursday to reports of a disturbance and that Brown jumped shortly after. He was transported in “very critical condition” to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Duquesne was providing counselors for students who needed support.

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