Death near parking garage causes blockage
The crime scene, the parking garage next to the library, was active for about two hours. Normal operations have resumed.
Police say there was no threat to campus and normal operations have resumed. Photo by Kimberly Swan
November 5, 2019
Editor’s note: If you have thoughts of suicide, support is available. FAU’s Counseling and Psychological Services crisis hotline is 561-297-3540 and you can see their hours here.
FAU police responded Tuesday morning to a self-inflicted gunshot wound directly outside of Garage 1 next to the library, according to FAU Chief Press Officer Lisa Metcalf. According to alert messages sent to students, police activity arrived to the scene at around 9 a.m. and left at around 11:48 a.m.
Metcalf said she could not provide further comment.
A parking enforcement official said the garage on Volusia St. was blocked, but normal operations have resumed.
Students and faculty parked in the library parking lot weren’t able to leave. But as of publication time, FAU says the scene is all clear. Palm Beach State College student Dominick Minervini said he had been waiting for almost two hours to leave the library lot.
Police alerts warned students to avoid the area. They also noted that there was no threat to campus.
If you have more information, DM us on Twitter at @upressonline or email us at [email protected].
Cameren Boatner is the editor-in-chief of the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email her at [email protected].
Kristen Grau is the managing editor of the University Press. For more information regarding this or other stories, email her at [email protected] or tweet her at @_kristengrau.
Robert DeSchryver • Nov 20, 2019 at 2:27 am
If all you had was the information on the parking situation and someone dead in garage 1, maybe think about either holding off publishing the article until further information is known , or at least have the decency to title it only about a death on campus (which AP guidelines do allow) and advise that more info is on the way. If no further info was to be published, then this article shouldn’t have existed whatsoever. I understand that it is your jobs to publish news, you however also have the final say in what is actually published.
Harvey Lazar Valentine • Nov 19, 2019 at 10:30 pm
The way this story is written focuses more on the traffic is abhorrent. Kristen Grau, this article is extremely heartless. I am absolutely shocked that this article was approved. My heart goes out to the victim and their family and friends.
Daniel Zubero • Nov 18, 2019 at 10:14 am
It’s honestly bullshit that this happened almost two weeks ago and I’ve only just heard about it in my class. Shouldn’t FAU at least have emailed a hotline to all students or had the teachers talk to us about it sooner? Instead, they posted this one article without any context or sympathy and it seemed so unimportant. Still waiting on a real article to honor this student and let us know that we go to a university that’s more willing to help us.
Anonymous • Nov 13, 2019 at 7:10 pm
What was the students name? I know her name was Rose but what is her last name?
Anonymous • Nov 12, 2019 at 12:14 pm
Listen, it’s been a week and this is STILL posted as the same original disgusting article that it was when it came out. Please take it down if you’re not going to at least put a new one in its place. This is terrible. Mental health is so important. We should NOT be covering this up. This makes me sick because I am a social work major and for you to not even address the suicide aspect is HORRENDOUS because it just adds to the stigma. I’m tired of having to fight for mental health rights and for people to not stigmatize it. Nothing is getting better if we don’t talk about it. If you’re not gonna change it please take it down. Every day I look and it’s the same fucking article. It hurts whether I knew the person or not. Terrible reporting. It makes me sick.
Connor • Nov 12, 2019 at 7:54 am
“Student takes own life in campus parking garage”, and then you could have written briefly about the traffic blockages in the article itself. You are leading with the traffic blockages, which is insensitive. The way it is currently written and with its current headline, it sounds like more of a traffic report. Also, people probably aren’t super interested in hearing about the length of traffic delay and comments from people on the ground. Maybe a brief Tweet about traffic blockages as a PSA during the event would have been more appropriate, then you could have held off on a full story until you had more confirmed details.
Kristina • Nov 11, 2019 at 3:40 pm
I pray that this woman’s family and friends do not read the saga that this has become. Shame on all of us. Stop commenting. This was a human life. Fau did her a disservice. Shocking. Let it be. Give the ones around you love and care.
Brenda P • Nov 8, 2019 at 6:48 pm
FAU was very insensitive about this wonderful young women. My daughter pulled up right after the incident and had to rake an exam, the students asked if could be postponed, teacher replied no, these students were shook up about the loss of a fellow student. May she Rest In Peace, and I pray for this family
Anonama • Nov 8, 2019 at 4:46 pm
This death is sad no matter the circumstances. Someone I know considered suicide and chose to live. As a society we need to ask why so many young people are hopeless and unhappy to the point that suicide appears the better option.
Me • Nov 8, 2019 at 12:24 pm
I knew the person. We went to class together. The confusion may be because the person was transitioning, so that’s why you get some saying “her,” and others remember the person as “him.” Either way, it’s surprising there hasn’t been more reported on this, but maybe the family is not ready to give details. All I can say is that this person was always helpful, very smart, and will be remembered by friends and classmates.
FAU Student • Nov 7, 2019 at 11:56 pm
The fact that no news outlet has any idea of what happened at FAU makes me sick, FAU trying to hide everything, the fact that this person’s life went away unnoticed makes me sick, after the lockdown it is all now peaches and cream, but can’t address the fact that SOMEONE DIED ON SCHOOL GROUNDS! I hope ROSE is now at peace, and btw, the writers of this article HAVE NO TOUCH, NO HUMANITY, Oh what an inconvenience, someone died and it caused a lockdown but operations are normal now… like someones DAUGTHER just died… welcome to corporate america i guess
Eva • Nov 7, 2019 at 9:40 pm
For those of you who know the correct information regarding this please let us know. Is a guy/girl? was person a TA? Please inform us of the correct information if you know.
Fau • Nov 7, 2019 at 8:04 pm
Why is everyone saying that the victim is Rose? How do you know that for sure? I know for a fact that It was not a girl it was actually a guy who committed suicide in the parking garage and it is very insensitive of this article to report it in a way of focusing on traffic rather than the tragedy that occurred. I hope that my friend gets something more positive than this insensitive article.
Florida Atlantic Student • Nov 7, 2019 at 7:01 pm
This article was the most repulsive and disheartening thing I have ever read. I am disgusted by your actions, Kristen Grau. You should be removed from whatever position of authority you hold immediately. The fact that you have the audacity to reply to the comments of Rose’s friends and ask them to give you information so you can write another wack ass article physically sickens me. You, as well as the entire university, should be ashamed of yourself. A student felt so hopeless that they were driven to take their own life and all you can think about is your next article. Hey FAU, instead of continuously trying to cover your own ass why don’t you try giving an iota of a fuck about your students. Let us not forget this isn’t the first time the this school has picked their image over the health and safety of their students (peep the article about our rapist quarterback). This entire situation was handled horrifically.
My condolences to Rose’s friends and family. May you find peace and may Rose rest in peace forever. The students at FAU are heartbroken by this loss of such a bright, young woman. Please, to anyone reading this, you are not alone; there is always hope. I am so sorry.
wow • Nov 7, 2019 at 6:54 pm
hello, im the niece of an nypd officer who earlier this summer committed suicide. if any of my family members were to see an article written this way about him, id be heart broken. my heart aches for her family and friends reading this repulsive lack of information. please consider deleting and giving this young women some rest.
Samantha • Nov 7, 2019 at 4:18 pm
Kristen,
If you have read through the comments, you will notice the trend among them all.
Instead of asking,” if you would have liked to see a different headline, please let us know some alternatives you had in mind.”
Consider the significance of grief. Consider the significance to love someone and to loose them. Consider an empty seat in a classroom, an empty bedroom where a wonderful person once slept, and a family once full, that is now broken.
You had enough details to publish empathy and your condolences to those affected but instead used it to portray a tragic incident as an inconvenience.
Please do better.
-Student at Florida Atlantic University
ML • Nov 7, 2019 at 11:52 am
This is atrocious.
I am SO ashamed to be an owl. A student DIED at her own hands, and THIS is how we’re talking about it?
There should be crisis intervention counseling available to ALL students in light of this tragedy.
Fun fact, FAU is cutting funding to the counseling center.
The disability accommodations department shouldn’t even be legal… almost a full semester has passed and I haven’t even gotten in with an advisor for accommodations for myself. The amount of stress its caused not having accommodations has been unbearable. I HATE that one of my peers felt so desperate for relief that this was the path she took. This is atrocious. I’m honestly reconsidering my attendance here. I don’t know if I can voluntarily attend such a calloused and inaccessible university in good consciousness.
Carlos • Nov 7, 2019 at 12:01 am
I advise you to please look at articles from other professional written publications if you don’t know how to write the title of a story dealing with suicide. There are many ways to keep professional journalistic standards while being sensible to someone’s death and their loved ones.
If in doubt, please try see the position of a friend, sister, or mother who has lost family in such tragic way. I think that would help with the silver line.
I also regret that you are asking the public about “how” to write a title. I think it’s out of place, as it’s not their job to write it, and condescending with a grieving community.
I hope you have learned from this experience.
To the family and friends of the deceased, my deepest condolences.
X • Nov 6, 2019 at 11:59 pm
You care more about justifying your article than the actual suicide. Instead of defending “the standards” just be a human being and apologize.
Sensitive Student • Nov 6, 2019 at 11:55 pm
Im frustrated by the lack of sensitivity on display here. Its too easy to get this right. Just kill yourself in your room where you wont interrupt traffic. It’s just common courtesy. You wouldnt go to the bathroom in the middle of the cafeteria right? So why off youself in the middle of a parking garage. Learn some manners.
The Real Karen • Nov 6, 2019 at 11:51 pm
I can’t BELIEVE a newspaper has the AUDACITY to post an article about suicide without reminding everyone that SUICIDE is BAD! As a news outlet you have a responsibility to make me feel better about things that make me SAD! I want to talk to your MANAGER!!
Rob Zachary • Nov 6, 2019 at 11:42 pm
Looks like a parking spot opened up!
JOHN SMITH • Nov 6, 2019 at 5:22 pm
This article is beyond insensitive and completely disregards the victim and their family as well as suicide awareness. Extremely distasteful.
Laurie Johansen • Nov 6, 2019 at 4:38 pm
This is horrible. So sadden and scared to read this news. I pray that the staff and administration of FAU will open their hearts and minds to how they may be contributing to their students mental instability.
My daughter is a Senior at FAU and her stress level and anxiety level is my primary concern since she stepped foot on campus especially now that she is a Senior and 6 months from graduation. I am so glad that my daughter and her friends have open conversations about their mental health and help each other get through it.
My heart and prayers go out to Rose’s friends and family. My heart aches for you all.
Cheryl Huey • Nov 6, 2019 at 3:01 pm
I think there is a difference between FAU saying that’s all we knew at the time and knowing this conveying a tragedy in a more sensitive manner. You have students, faculty, employees and the community at large who expect you to take care and demonstrate the insight needed to reflect what you convey in many messages ; We Care, We Have Services for you and we are a Leader
amongst higher learning institutions.
An FAU student who survived The Margory Stoneman Douglas massacre committed suicide last year and I am sure there have been other students from FAU who have done so like many others across the US. The words you chose in communication have an effect across many individuals and keeping the tragedy of death of any kind in mind is key as well as not address mundane traffic concerns as this is the norm at FAU- limited parking and access points.
Acknowledge your responsibility and address it to your community so they see you are aware.
Let’s Pray for Rose and the many other individuals who may be one moment in time away from this tragic decision; smile at people, talk to people, when u sense something offer help and ask if someone is okay they may say yes but you ASKED.
Chris Curme • Nov 6, 2019 at 1:25 pm
I was Community Section editor of my college newspaper, The Miami Student, and I covered a number of student deaths, including suicides. We would literally never have written an article like this. When there’s a suicide, write about a suicide, even if you have bare bones info. Don’t make the headline about the minor inconvenience it caused people in their cars. What is wrong with you? This is truly disgusting and just awful, awful journalism. You should issue an apology and re-frame this story to be about the unparalleled tragedy of a suicide rather than the mundane inconvenience of traffic. What a weird, shitty thing to do.
Sjp9920 • Nov 6, 2019 at 12:46 pm
I’m numb to this at this point. My high school had a death rate of 3 a year. College has followed suit so far. People’s house don’t have mental health issues think it’s easy to ask for help. That’s so far from true. It can feel embarrassing or make one feel week and can be difficult because “what do I even say?”. I know I asked for help from a parent more than once and they completely dismissed me. Make sure that when someone who has depression or anything has “sudden relief” or are acting very happy out of the blue, that they are actually ok. I’ve read that the choice to end ones life can be found freeing to people with mental illness. Check in on all your friends that say “oh I’m just tired” and don’t take “I’m fine” as an answer.
Pedro S • Nov 6, 2019 at 11:59 am
These comments are absolutely silly. This was a breaking news article. All that was known was there was a shooting and police activity. Later reported to be self inflicted. No information that someone had died. I’m sure they”ll be another news article about the suicide later. No one has “handled” it badly, since it is still unfolding.
Luisa • Nov 6, 2019 at 11:34 am
This article is so awful. This school is so awful not only was funding for mental health cut but they treat their students like inconveniences too. Whoever wrote this article y’all should be ashamed of yourselves to write about this girl as if she was a burden. Maybe that’s why she decided to end her life. This world is shameful. Although I am not surprised that someone decided to end their life on campus the school isn’t the best and it’s hard and stressful and the people are much like the writers who wrote this awful article. Wtf is wrong with y’all R.I.P. babygirl I am sorry that these SICK people wrote about you in this way. FAU IS TRASH ! Especially for trying to act like this girl was an inconvenience to everyone. Do better
Michelle Campbell • Nov 6, 2019 at 11:15 am
All I can say is “shame, shame, shame, on FAU and the way they have handled this situation”
My daughter lives on campus and is so upset!
shelby • Nov 6, 2019 at 11:07 am
i am amazed at the lack of empathy in this article. there is a person that has died, and you decide to center this about the inconvenience of it all? i’m disgusted that this has been left up for so long without change.
Kristen Grau • Nov 6, 2019 at 11:44 am
Hi Shelby, I’m Kristen Grau, the managing editor of the UP. Thanks for your feedback. What would you have liked to see different about this story?
Gianna Lopez • Nov 6, 2019 at 10:11 am
FAU and the University press should be ashamed for posting this disgrace of an article. A student died yesterday and this article glosses over that entirely, not bothering to mention the fact that it was a suicide and chalking it up to much more than a traffic incident. A similar incident happened in 2016 when a student committed suicide in one of the dorms, but absolutely no attention was drawn to the issue or mental health in general. It seems like FAU is simply trying to avoid “bad press”, but as a current student, I’m beyond disappointed and sad for Rose that this response is the result.
Concerned parent • Nov 6, 2019 at 10:03 am
Not to oppose anyone’s comments for which I do agree about the tone on this article., but we do have to factor in the writer should only publish the facts. And at the time the only facts giving to the media was from Officer Metcalf and said she could not provide further comment….
We do not know if the police informed Rose’s family, which it would be worst for them to get the news from a poorly written insensitive article…. Just my two cents.
I hope FAU will post follow up articles addressing issues students deal with and also to acknowledge Rose.
Kristen Grau • Nov 6, 2019 at 11:33 am
Hi there, I’m Kristen Grau, the UP’s managing editor. We’re in the process of finding and reaching out to people who say they know they person that died. That way, we can write a full story on their life and the people impacted by it. Please let us know what you thought was insensitive about this article and improvements you suggest for future coverage.
Kristen Grau • Nov 6, 2019 at 11:51 am
Hello, this is UP managing editor Kristen Grau. We appreciate your feedback. We are, indeed, working on a follow-up story about the person who died. However, we’re not sure how soon it’ll be posted — those sorts of stories take more time than a breaking news story. We would like to hear more about what you thought could’ve been different about the headline and/or story, so please let us know your suggestions.
Luis Natal • Nov 6, 2019 at 6:35 am
The tittle focusing on “the blockage” is seriously insulting!! Please think three times before posting a tittle ignoring what the main problem is. Someone is dead and we worry about the loss of student activities and the use of the garage?
Cynthia • Nov 6, 2019 at 1:11 am
I’ve never commented on an article but I had to , to show hoe much i agree with other commenters.
This article is repulsive ! Simply grazing over the fact that there was a lifeless body, self inflicted death, on campus, a fellow colleague… And focusing on how there was TRAFFIC BLOCKAGE ?!?
I only found out her name through the comments. Rose, whoever you were, I’m sorry it ended this way.
FAU ADDRESS THE FACT THAT SOMEONE CHOSE TO END THEIR LIFE ON CAMPUS… please…
Je Suis Sammy • Nov 6, 2019 at 1:07 am
This writer needs to take this story down and rewrite with a more humane approach. Express empathy for the grieving family. A human being died today, to heck with all the bS about the traffic and police presence causing road blockage as if her death was just an afterthought and a huge inconvenience to faculty and staff. Geez!!! Journalists today are so lazy.
Nicole • Nov 6, 2019 at 12:20 am
What a terrible article. Makes her death out to be an inconvenience rather than acknowledging mental health and seeking treatment. May you rest in peace, Rose. You will be missed.
Instr. Ellis • Nov 5, 2019 at 11:34 pm
Lord help me to be approachable; a faculty member who a student or colleague could talk to instead of making such a final, drastic, and detrimental decision.
Rex • Nov 5, 2019 at 10:26 pm
I agree with the others about the focus of this article. Rose was an incredible human being. Ive never met someone else with such a strong matter of fact conviction towards the values of education, understanding, and fighting for what you believe in.
Such a hand wave over the lose of someone as bright as her in such a tragic way is appalling. This article is is an insult to her memory and the impact her death will have on the people that knew the depth of her character.
Rose always had a calm composure that seemed unshakeable and her words were always chosen with careful deliberation.
She will be dearly missed.
Kristen Grau • Nov 6, 2019 at 11:43 am
Hi Rex, this is managing editor of the UP Kristen Grau. We’re deeply sorry about your loss. The focus of the article was about parking because that’s all the information we could confirm. We want to write an obituary about them and their life, so if you would like to help us do that, contact me at [email protected] or [email protected]. And if you would have liked to see a different headline, please let us know some alternatives you had in mind.
mcnamara • Nov 5, 2019 at 9:35 pm
Rose will be missed by all her friends. FAU lost a wonderful TA and a committed scholar. She did many things and did them well, but, above all, she always had the right words and a touch of kindness.
Kristen Grau • Nov 6, 2019 at 12:00 pm
Hello, my name is Kristen Grau and I’m the managing editor of the UP. I’m very sorry about your loss. We are working on an obituary on the person who died, so if you’d like to tell us more about their life, please contact me at [email protected] or [email protected] if you knew them well.
Julia • Nov 5, 2019 at 7:35 pm
I’m disgusted by FAU right now. Not one post about mental health or ways to seek help. This school is acting as if somebody didn’t shoot themself on campus this morning. A life was LOST and all activities and classes continued. this school hadn’t made any statements about mental health and how to prevent these things and to get help! This school is gonna have people think suicide is the answer and they will start a train.
Ari • Nov 5, 2019 at 6:46 pm
In my opinion, the title and overall tone of the article focusing on the parking “blockage” because of a death is insensitive. It appears that the parking blockage was more of a pressing concern and completely disregards the fact that someone lost their life.
Kristen Grau • Nov 6, 2019 at 11:30 am
Hi, Ari: Thanks for your feedback. The tone of the article focused on the parking situation because that’s all the information we had. We’re reaching out to people who might have known the person who died so we can write a more complete story about them. As for the headline, what alternative would you like to have seen?
Jane Doe • Nov 5, 2019 at 3:54 pm
she deserves better than this impersonal fucking article. FUCK. i miss her. She seemed so much happier lately.
Kristen Grau • Nov 6, 2019 at 11:39 am
Hi there, this is Kristen Grau, the managing editor of the University Press. We would like to write an obituary on the person who died — so if you knew them, we would love to hear about who they were and their life. You can email me directly at [email protected] or [email protected] so we can hopefully arrange a time to talk if you’re comfortable doing so.
Jane Doe • Nov 5, 2019 at 3:44 pm
Rose was a dear friend and this hurts. a lot
Laura Gomez • Nov 5, 2019 at 1:15 pm
The news about this really has me speechless. To think I was running late to school when the school messages went out and I just thought it was a usual mishap or incident that we tend to have at times. Only to go about my day until about 10 minutes ago when my classmate told me it was a suicide. My heart is heavy and I cannot imagine what this person must’ve been going through. I wish there could’ve been something I could’ve done. Be there on time and talked them out of it or even just run up and hold them. PLEASE if you have been having suicidal thoughts, seek help. Speak to someone. Anyone. If you know of someone who is feeling this way or is showing signs, talk to them. Be there for them. You could possibly save their life. RIP angel
Kate Cominio • Nov 5, 2019 at 12:48 pm
As a parent I am sick to hear this.This child was only steps away from help.If only they would have asked for help or stopped an adult or another student.
Our child is a junior at the school and was told every year ,by school personnel,if you need help we are here.
A parent’s. worse nightmare.