Florida State fraternity suspended after student’s death at party

At+podium+is+Stacy+Parks%2C+Miller+Centre+County+District+Attorney%2C+with+James+and+Evelyn+Piazza%2C+parents+of+Timothy+Piazza%2C+19%2C+of+Readington+Township%2C+N.J.+during+a+press+conference+at+Bellefonte+courthouse+on+Friday+morning+May+5%2C+2017.++%28David+Swanson%2FPhiladelphia+Inquirer%2FTNS%29

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At podium is Stacy Parks, Miller Centre County District Attorney, with James and Evelyn Piazza, parents of Timothy Piazza, 19, of Readington Township, N.J. during a press conference at Bellefonte courthouse on Friday morning May 5, 2017. (David Swanson/Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)

Florida State University’s chapter of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity has been suspended after a student died at an off-campus house party, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.

Andrew Coffey, a 20-year-old civil engineering student, died Friday morning at a home about a mile from the university, Tallahassee police told the newspaper.

Coffey, of Pompano Beach, was becoming a member of the fraternity through a process known as pledging.

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Neighbors told the Tallahassee Democrat a party was held at the house Thursday night. Coffey’s unresponsive body was found about 10:25 a.m. Friday.

The fraternity’s national organization directed the local Beta Eta Chapter to cooperate with investigators, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

University officials are also working with police, Florida State University Vice President Amy Hecht said.

“We are overwhelmed with sadness any time we learn of the death of one of our students, and the FSU family provides extensive outreach to their family and friends as they mourn the loss of a young life,” Hecht said in a statement. “We do not yet have details surrounding the passing today of student Andrew Coffey, but we will work closely with the Tallahassee Police Department as it investigates to determine the facts surrounding this case.”

A friend and fellow Florida State University student said Coffey was rushing Pi Kappa Phi’s FSU chapter.

“He was a really nice kid, always very friendly to everybody,” said George Edmunds.

Edmunds described Coffey as a high school athlete and junior ROTC member with an ever-present smile on his face. The two used to hang out with friends at the pier in Deerfield Beach when they were younger, he said.

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“The people I know that are friends with him are really shocked, it’s just crushing,” Edmunds said.

No arrests have been made.

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