Duquesne University football player dies after falling from 16th floor

A Duquesne University football player died after falling Thursday night from the 16th-floor window of a private residence hall on the Pittsburgh campus, officials said.

The man was identified Friday by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office as 21-year-old Marquis Jaylen Brown. Brown was a junior from Washington, D.C., in the McAnulty College of Liberal Arts, according to the university.

A university statement said Brown “jumped out of a 16th-floor window of Brottier Hall after campus police arrived in response to a reported disturbance.” Brottier Hall is an on-campus apartment building.

Foul play is not suspected, according to the statement.

“A memorial service for Marquis is being planned on campus, likely on Sunday evening,” Duquesne President Ken Gormley wrote in an email to students. “Further information will be sent to you as it is available. 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. May he rest in peace.”

Police responded to what was initially reported to be an altercation at about 10:30 p.m., according to a news release sent just before 1 a.m. from Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeswoman Alicia George.

Amanda Booth, who lives on the fourth floor of Brottier Hall, said she and other students watched in disbelief from the building’s window as paramedics carried Brown on a stretcher around 10:45 p.m.

“A lot of the girls on the floor heard screaming and the glass shatter,” said Booth, 22, of Irwin. “There were a lot of people in tears down here. A lot of people actually saw him jump.”

Once Booth and her friends saw Pittsburgh Police respond, in addition to Duquesne Police, they knew something bad was happening, she said.

“We just heard so many sirens,” Booth said. “The whole area was blocked off, there were two fire trucks, three ambulances and probably a good 20 cop cars.”

Authorities did not let students, including Booth’s roommate, in the building until about 11:45 p.m., Booth said.

Police questioned Booth and her roommates about four students who live across the hall from them, because they are on the football team, she said.

Only juniors and seniors can live in Brottier Hall, which is not a dorm but has resident assistants, Booth said.

Maddie Perry, a senior who lives off campus, had not yet heard what had happened as of 10 a.m. Friday.

“I would say it’s surprising,” said Perry, 20, of Pittsburgh, when told about the incident by a Trib reporter. “I had never heard of anything like this happening before here.”

Brown died at the hospital at 11:12 p.m., according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Pittsburgh Police are investigating.

Detectives asked anyone with information about the incident to call 412-323-7800.

Natasha Lindstrom is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Natasha at 412-380-8514, nlindstrom@tribweb.com or via Twitter @NewsNatasha.