Flatbush resident Anthony Nazaire, 19, was killed early Sunday morning at Cornell University, when several fights broke out at a fraternity orientation party.
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“In the meantime, I hope you will hold these students – along with their families, friends, classmates, and professors – in your thoughts and prayers at this hard and tragic time”, said Ithaca College president Tom Rochon.
This is just one more tragic reminder to be safe as you start another year of school. No arrests have been made yet, and no details on the murder weapon have been disclosed.
“God gave him gifts”, the slain student’s godfather, Jacques Dorsainvil, told the Daily News.
Nazaire – a student in the school of business administration – was just a few days into his sophomore year at the school.
“He was truly an awesome kid and cared so much for everyone around him”, said Kristopher Ebanks, a school and college counselor at Brooklyn Theatre Arts High School. “I never knew that it would have to be me crying over someone so close”.
Williamson said video surveillance shows that multiple people recorded the incident on their cell phones.
A campus gathering was planned for 4 p.m. Monday to reflect on the death of Nazaire, according to The Ithacan. I don’t get it, why this happened to us. “Everybody knows he’s a gift from God”.
Another student was stabbed during the brawl, but their identity has not been released. Nazaire was taken to Cayuga Medical Center but could not be saved, said police.
“I hope you will hold these students – along with their families, friends, classmates, and professors – in your thoughts and prayers at this hard and tragic time”, University President Tom Rochon stated.
The other Ithaca College student that was injured was airlifted to Upstate Medical Center.
Ryan Lombardi, vice president for student and campus life at Cornell, had followed up a crime alert sent to students earlier with a message, including, “There is nothing more important than the safety of our community; as such, this incident is deeply disturbing”.
Jamie Williamson, public information officer for the Ithaca Police Department, said no additional information is available at this time.
People mourned Nazaire with posts on social media as well, posting family photos and a snapshot of the business card he had from Ithaca.
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“I ask that you keep Anthony’s family, the student who was injured, and their friends and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers”, Rochon said. “I hope they find whoever do this to us and bring him to justice”. The text read: “I’m going to come home late because Anthony’s been stabbed”.
