Colin Kaepernick Seeks Second Opinion On Black Student Found Hanging From A Tree

Colin Kaepernick is digging deeper into the death of a Delta State University student.

The former football player has displayed a significant interest in the second phase of the autopsy for the college student who was found hanging from a tree on campus grounds this week.

Colin Kaepernick has carved a niche for himself in recent years as one of the leading voices for civil rights and the protection of black lives in America, from his famous, controversial move of taking a knee during the national anthem in 2016.

The former NFL pro, through his Know Your Rights Camp Autopsy Initiative, has revealed that the body will carry the cost for an independent autopsy for De'Martravion "Trey" Reed. Kaepernick's intention was expressed by the victim's family's attorney and civil rights lawyer, Ben Crump.

The family is challenging the Mississippi State Medical Examiner's Office, which initially ruled the death a suicide. Reed is the black student pronounced dead after he was found hanging from a tree on the Delta State University campus on Monday. 

Crump, in his statement as reported by TMZ, declared that Reed's death "evoked the collective memory of a community that has suffered a historic wound over many, many years and many, many deaths."

In their statement on the 21-year-old's death on Thursday, the Cleveland Police Department emphasized that the examiner's findings match results from the initial investigation, which ruled the death a suicide.

The department revealed that toxicology results may take two to four weeks to get completed, as they sent their condolences to the Reed's family alongside the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.

The Delta State's Director of Public Safety, Mike Peeler, in his initial statement, noted that no evidence of foul play existed in connection with the college student's passing.

The Bolivar County Coroner's Office also communicated the same sentiment in their statement that Reed's death was not associated with any assault. "At this time, there is no evidence to suggest the individual was physically attacked before his death," the office affirmed. 

On why the family challenged the autopsy reports, Vanessa Jones, representing the family, stated that the Grenada County Sheriff's Department had earlier informed them that he was found dead in his room. 

As shared by PEOPLE, Jones stressed that the family still does not have any idea of what truly transpired with their son on September 15, and they were simply finding answers.

The victim's grandfather added that a member of the Bolivar County Sheriff's Department had ruled the death as "suicide," vehemently ignoring the "possible suicide." Crump, in his statement, also emphasized that the family would not accept "vague conclusions" in the face of so many pressing questions.

"I stand with this family, and I will lead a team of civil rights leaders and organizations in pursuing transparency and answers for Trey's family," the civil rights attorney noted.

Kaepernick has often referenced his upbringing as a Black boy who grew up with white adoptive parents who had issues adapting to some cultural differences.

The former footballer revealed that he never expected his blackness would cause friction in that household, although it did not change his parents' love for him and vice versa.

The Blast shared that Kaepernick recalled a point where his mother scoffed at the idea of him getting cornrows and tagged it unprofessional. He noted that the kick against making cornrows ultimately shaped his decision to stick to his signature afro.

He also expressed how the racial undertones in his home prompted him to search for a more familiar terrain outside his home, leading him to find a home on the football field due to the influx of Black players.

Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown indeed! Kaepernick was practically exiled after he decided to take a knee during the rendition of the national anthem in the 2016 season.

The Daily Mail confirmed that while the former quarterback has not played a game since that incident, his wife revealed that he still trains so hard. She expressed that his hopes to play alongside his teammates again were high, and being offered the slot of a coach might not suffice.

Kaepernick had scored a huge legal win against the NFL in 2019 after he accused the owners of sabotaging his career as payback for his protests against police brutality and calls against racial injustice.

He also revealed last October that he had not turned on his TV to watch an NFL game since 2016 because he is not about to support a body that blackballed him for his stance.

Will Colin Kaepernick's independent autopsy find anything different?