The school year is coming to an end on a tragic note for students at the SUNY College at Brockport. Early Sunday morning, Brockport police said a college student died in an apparent drowning after jumping into the Erie Canal. Time Warner Cable News reporter Breanna Fuss has more on how students are coping.
BROCKPORT, N.Y. -- One of the final weekends of the school year turned tragic Sunday.
"At approximately 2:30 in the morning, we were dispatched to the area of the canal near the lock, in the area of 238 Holley Street, for a male who jumped into the water," said Brockport Police Department Sgt. Paul Wheat.
Police said the 23-year-old senior was with two other friends.
"It appears he was there to go into the water," Wheat said.
Police said he jumped from the top of the lock and into the canal, which is 12 feet deep.
Search teams from Brockport Police, State University Police and the Monroe County Sheriff's Office searched for the student. At 8 a.m., they recovered his body. His family has asked police to not release his identity.
News of their peer's death spread quickly.
"I don't think most people ever considered it, it's really dirty," said Jamal Hudson, a junior at College at Brockport. "Your time is limited, it's precious.”
"My condolences to the family, it's sad," said Mike Falcon, a sophomore at College at Brockport.
With graduation next week, there will now be one less student turning his tassel.
"This should be the happiest times of our students' lives for those who are graduating right now," said school spokesperson David Mihalyov.
The Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office is performing an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
Police said they don't believe any charges will be filed against the two students present at the time of the incident.
College at Brockport held counseling services for students and staff on Sunday.