An employee of the Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School who was found dead in the school's cafeteria where elevated carbon monoxide levels were detected appears to have died from an unrelated cause, the school said in a statement Tuesday night. On Wednesday, the school released additional information in response to inquiries.

Authorities have not released the results of an autopsy or other information about cause of death.

A member of the charter school's night cleaning crew who had worked there three years — identified Thursday by his sister as Brian Deforge — died Monday night, the school said. 

“It appears that the elevated carbon monoxide levels caused by the kitchen equipment and the individual’s death are unrelated,” the school said Tuesday. It reached the conclusion based on a review of security video and onsite investigations by the responding authorities, the school said in a statement issued Wednesday.

Station 5 firefighters responded to the school before 8 a.m. Tuesday, finding one person at the school in cardiac arrest on the floor. While providing care, a carbon monoxide detector on emergency equipment alerted responders to high levels of the odorless gas in the cafeteria, which they and the school said was traced to a piece of kitchen cooking equipment.

The discovery of high carbon monoxide levels prompted an evacuation of the school while the building was ventilated. Students and staff were moved to the nearby district office building. Five adults were taken to the hospital for an exam and monitoring, and were released the same day, the school said Wednesday. 

The rest of the school had what firefighters termed "minimal levels" of carbon monoxide and no children had been exposed to high levels.

Members of the Syracuse Fire Department and city code enforcers inspected the building. According to the fire department, it and National Grid identified an improperly vented appliance in the kitchen area as the source of the elevated levels of carbon monoxide. 

They confirmed carbon monoxide alarms were present in multiple areas of the building, but not in the building’s kitchen or cafeteria, the fire department said in a statement Tuesday night. 

The school said in Tuesday's statement that the city fire department regularly inspects its fire and carbon monoxide detection systems, and "the School’s facilities are equipped with appropriate carbon monoxide detectors as required by the code."

On Wednesday, however, the school said a detailed inspection conducted after the incident revealed a device in the cafeteria, "previously thought to be a smoke and carbon monoxide detector, was actually just a smoke detector."

The school said it is re-inspecting of its kitchen equipment and safety devices throughout its faciilities in partnership with the city to ensure they meet all safety standards and regulations.

The city on Tuesday closed the school pending installation and approval of additional carbon monoxide alarms, and a safety certification from the school of the kitchen equipment by a licensed professional as approved by the city's Code Enforcement Division.

The school held online learning sessions on Wednesday and Thursday. It is cooperating with the investigations. 

"The safety and well-being of our students and staff are paramount," the school said Wednesday. "We are committed to transparency and keeping the community informed."

Deforge will be remembered at 2:30 Thursday afternoon at a candlelight vigil at the school.