Crime & Safety
PA College Student's Death Under Investigation
McCrae Williams, a freshman at Lafayette College, died Monday after he was hospitalized over the weekend.
EASTON, PA – The death of a Lafayette College student is under investigation, according to police. McCrae Williams, 19, a freshman lacrosse recruit, died Monday after he was hospitalized over the weekend, according to police.
Police believe a "chain of events" that began Saturday culminated in Williams' death on Monday, according to the Morning Call. Williams was taken to Easton Hospital after campus police responded to a call at Ruef Hall North around 4:20 p.m. Sunday afternoon.
He was later moved to Lehigh Valley Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 5:03 p.m. on Monday. An autopsy will be performed Wednesday to determine the cause of death.
Find out what's happening in Eastonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Williams did not appear to be exerting himself physically in a way that may have caused his death, nor did he appear to be ill, Lehigh Valley Live reported, citing a coroner's statement. Police are investigating if alcohol played a role in his death.
Williams was a 2017 graduate of Noble & Greenough School in Dedham, Massachusetts, where he played goalie for the Nobles. Recruiting website RecruitingRundown.com lists him as a commitment to the Lafayette Leopards lacrosse team.
Find out what's happening in Eastonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
In a letter to the Noble & Greenough community, Head of School Catherine Hall wrote that Williams fell over the weekend and "suffered a major head injury."
"McCrae was a beloved member of our community. He was a three-sport athlete, an excellent student, an admission tour guide and a good friend to many of you," Hall wrote. "A lacrosse team captain at Nobles, he was planning to play lacrosse at Lafayette."
Lafayette College President Alison Byerly called Williams' passing "heartbreaking" in a statement Tuesday.
"We extend our deepest sympathies to McCrae’s family and friends," Byerly wrote.
The school will hold a gathering Tuesday evening at 7:30 p.m. on the Quad.
McCrae's death follows a high-profile case of another Pennsylvania college student's death. Timothy Piazza died in February after falling at a fraternity party.
Image via Noble & Greenough, used with permission
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.