Violent Death of Virginia Tech Freshman a Mystery
by: Jenna Mattox
Blacksburg police are investigating the death of an 18-year-old Virginia Tech student from injuries he apparently sustained in an incident early on the morning of Nov. 5. Blacksburg police have not ruled out homicide as a cause of death.
According to Lt. Bruce Bradbery of the Blacksburg Police Department, Brian Joseph McCloskey was found around 2 a.m. on Nov. 5 near a bike path in the 1400 block of Christine Court. Police listed his injuries as head and neck trauma.
McCloskey was taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where he died Thursday.
According to student reports, McCloskey had attended a birthday party last Friday night at Pheasant Run Crossing Town Homes. Reportedly, the victim saw an invitation for the party online at www.facebook.com.
He was found on a bike path within sight of Pheasant Run Crossing, police have said.
Students throwing the party indicated that they did not know McCloskey.
Some Tech students may have been confused about his identity because The Collegiate Times, the student newspaper, inadvertently published a story about his death Friday but used a photo of Josh Shutt, another Tech freshman who died two weeks ago as a result of injuries suffered in a car wreck.
The students who threw the party were questioned by police as to the possible cause of death. Police were investigating possibilities that McCloskey may have fallen, been beaten with a blunt object, or been hit by a vehicle.
Blacksburg police said the investigation is ongoing. An autopsy was scheduled for Nov. 11, according to police.
In a statement released to the Virginia Tech community on Friday, Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger said, "I know I speak for the campus community when I say that we are deeply saddened by the death.the cause of Brian's death is unknown at this time and Blacksburg Police are continuing to investigate. However, I am also deeply disturbed that this death may not have been accidental. It is plainly unacceptable and outrageous that someone from the campus community experiences harm in this way.we are deeply committed to the safety of our community, particularly our students. Every effort is being made to identify individual(s) responsible and resolve this tragic death."
According to messages left for McCloskey on facebook.com, he was a fun loving person who liked to make others laugh and who shared several inside jokes with close friends. McCloskey, a resident of Olney, Md., lived in Thomas Hall and was taking Business Information Technology classes at Virginia Tech.