A University of Wyoming transit employee found a male’s body in a vehicle in the White Hall parking lot on the University of Wyoming campus late yesterday morning.
Chad Baldwin, director of Institutional Communications at UW, said the cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He also confirmed that the deceased was a university student.
“A UW employee discovered the body this morning in a vehicle,” Baldwin said.
Albany County Coroner Jennifer Graham said she could not confirm that the death was a suicide. In an interview with the Casper Star Tribune, Baldwin said, “Unfortunately the university is not immune to suicides.” However, Baldwin did say that for now a suicide could not be confirmed.
Brooke White, a student living in White Hall on the side of the building where the body was found, said she learned about the incident from social media. She also said she did not hear a gunshot last night.
“I was up pretty late last night, and we live on that side of the building,” White said. “I feel like I should have heard it.”
The deceased’s next of kin have not been notified, so Graham could not confirm the student’s name.
Theresa Humphries-Wadsworth, Wyoming suicide prevention coordinator, said students that are having trouble should call the national suicide prevention lifeline number at 1-800-273-8255 or text 741741. The lifeline is answered 24/7 and staffed by people trained in suicide prevention.
Michael Morgan, an associate professor in the department of professional studies, said there are numerous resources for students on campus to seek help.
“The Counselor Education Training Clinic here on campus is free for students, and anyone in the community,” Morgan said.
Students can also go to the University Counseling Center between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. with urgent problems. For crises outside of these hours, they have an on-call counselor available at 1-307-766-8989.
