Preliminary Investigation Finds ‘Excessive Alcohol Consumption’ A Factor In Penn State Student’s Death
Penn State College of Engineering student Ryan O’Malley died over the weekend, according to Penn State spokesperson Lisa Powers. He was 21.
According to the State College Police Department (SCPD), police and Emergency Medical Services were called to an off-campus apartment at 4:17 a.m. on Sunday, October 16, after O’Malley’s roommate found him unresponsive. Police say life-saving measures were attempted, but O’Malley was pronounced dead at the scene.
While the Centre County Coroner’s Office and the SCPD are jointly investigating the situation, police say a preliminary investigation shows that “excessive alcohol consumption” was a contributing factor to his death and that it appears to be accidental.
Police say O’Malley had attended a party earlier that night and consumed an “excessive amount of alcohol” during a drinking game. A Coroner’s toxicology report is currently pending.
“The death of any student is heartbreaking and our hearts go out to all who knew him,” Powers wrote. “Staff within Student Affairs has reached out to his family and friends to offer assistance and support as needed”
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact State College Police by calling (814) 234-7150, sending an email, or submitting an anonymous tip online.
We’ll update this post with more information as it becomes available.
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