A Massachusetts Institute of Technology student died early Saturday morning after apparently falling five stories from his fraternity house on Beacon Street, police said.
Robert Wells, 22, of Ballston Spa, N.Y., was a senior in MIT’s brain and cognitive sciences program and a member of the technology chapter of the Delta Upsilon fraternity, whose off-campus house is at 526 Beacon St.
Boston Police Department spokesman Eddy Chrispian said police are still investigating the death and waiting for autopsy results.
“At this point, a lot of the facts are still in question,” he said. “There’s not really too much that we can say at this point. We’re saddened for the family, the school and his friends.”
An MIT statement said the school is “terribly saddened” by the death and is cooperating fully with the BPD’s investigation.
“This is a tragedy for his family, friends and the entire MIT community, and our hearts go out to all of them during this difficult time,” the statement said. “It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”
Three other Boston students have fallen to their deaths in the past year and a half. Michael Robertson, a 20-year-old Boston University sophomore, died Jan. 21, 2007 after falling from the fourth floor of his South Campus dorm.
On Nov. 17, 21-year-old Shawn Dow, an Art Institute of Boston junior, died after falling from the roof of an Allston apartment during a party. Northeastern University sophomore Brian Evans, 21, died Sept. 24, 2006 after falling from the roof of his Roxbury apartment building.
Staff reporters Andy Facini and Kasey Wickman contributed reporting to this article.
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