22-year-old Drexel student Evan Morris was found by Philadelphia Police officers early July 29 in a private residence in the 3400 block of Race Street near campus.
Initial reports suggest that an altercation between Morris and a student from another university resulted in the death. Information on which university the student came from was not released.
News reports said that police arrived at the scene in response to a 4:55 a.m. call about a break-in to find Morris wounded by stabbing. Police told the Philadelphia Daily News that Morris was the intruder and that the call they received was for a man banging on the door while trying to get into a second floor apartment at 3414 Race Street.
When police arrived they found Morris with stab wounds to his chest, cheek and head, police reported to the Daily News. Morris was pronounced dead at 5:38 a.m. after medics took him to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
A DrexelAlert message was not sent to the Drexel student body as the non-Drexel suspect was immediately taken into custody by the Philadelphia Police.
Drexel University President John A. Fry released a statement in the morning announcing that the University and Drexel Police would be working with Philadelphia Police Detectives to investigate the situation and that few facts were clear at the time.
Fry also stated that he had reached out to Morris’ family to offer support. Morris was a senior in the Goodwin College of Professional Studies.
The University is also providing professional counselors through the Drexel Counseling Center. The Center can be reached by calling 215-895-1415 or after regular hours at 215-416-3337.
“Our concern is with the family,” Senior Associate Vice President for Public Safety Domenic Ceccanecchio said. “We want to make sure that students have access to the counseling services available whenever there is a tragedy in campus.”
Updated: 11:21 a.m. July 29, 2001
-Information provided by police to the Philadelphia Daily News was added.
Updated: 10:56 a.m. July 29, 2011
-Quotes were added from Senior Associate Vice President for Public Safety Domenic Ceccanecchio, along with further details regarding the suspect.