Daniel Mann Whitley, an 18-year-old freshman in First Year College, was found deceased by his roommate Sunday afternoon in Tucker Residence Hall.
Sgt. Jon Barnwell of Campus Police said there were no signs of foul play, and the cause of death is pending on the medical examiner’s autopsy.
“The roommate called us about 1:20 [p.m.] today and said he found his roommate unresponsive,” Barnwell said. “When EMS responded, the resident was determined to be deceased.”
Barnwell said Campus Police is investigating.
Ryan Hatley, a freshman in mathematics education, said he had gone to school with Whitley since kindergarten.
“He was real quiet, real shy, loved to act,” Hatley said.
Austin Jones, a sophomore in creative writing who went to high school with Whitley, agreed.
“Daniel was the man,” he said. “We were in drama together. He loved being in plays. He loved drama. We always had a great time … he was always up for a laugh.”
Whitley’s roommate, Scott Hester, a freshman in First Year College, was out of the room until this afternoon when he found Whitley, according to Barnwell.
Whitley was last seen Saturday night at Tucker, said Barnwell.
Two Campus Police cars, one firetruck and one EMS vehicle arrived at the scene after Hester called Campus Police.
Shane Nettles, a freshman in environmental engineering, said he saw the emergency personnel enter the building.
“We just saw emergency vehicles pull up and saw them go upstairs,” he said. “A lot of policemen showed up and then the EMS. I saw them pull a stretcher in there.”
A member of the fire department, who chose to remain unidentified, said this was a “very serious call.”
Freshman Kelly Bumgarner said she had two classes with Whitley.
“He seemed a little quiet but really nice,” she said. “He sort of kept to himself.”
Residents of Tucker weren’t sure what happened, but felt the loss nonetheless.
“It was pretty surprising,” Will Dampier, a freshman in First Year College, said.
“I didn’t know him or anything, but it’s a pretty big shock.”