George Mason Student Dies, Police Believe Hallucinogenic Drug Involved

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A George Mason University student died after he allegedly took a hallucinogenic drug and jumped out of a fifth-story dormitory window over the weekend, school police said.

School officials said Tristan Medina, 19, died at around 4:45 p.m. Saturday after he jumped out of a window of the Potomac Heights Residence Hall.

Medina, a sophomore, was found alive but unresponsive on the ground outside. Mason Police said he “may have ingested a hallucinogenic substance and was transported to the hospital.” He was taken to Fairfax Hospital where he was pronounced dead, officials said.

Medina's fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE), held a vigil to honor him Sunday night, the school's newspaper reports.

Medina graduated from Massaponax High School in Fredericksburg, VA. in 2015, where he played running back on the football team.

Medina's high school coach Eric Ludden told Fox 5: “He was really loved by his teammates and people at school. You know, it was very evident. He was very easygoing. He was basically a star running back, but he did not have that attitude that sometimes people get when they maybe get a big head. He was never like that.”

At this time, it's unclear what drug Medina took. University President Ángel Cabrera said in a statement: "There are still many questions to answer, and our police department continues to investigate. One thing we know is that drug use is neither recreational nor safe. It can be extremely dangerous. The stakes are very high and they can be life-threatening."

Mason Police urged students who have taken a hallucinogenic substance or are in possession of a hallucinogenic substance to contact University Police.

The university has a medical amnesty program, which allows students "who proactively exhibit responsible behavior the opportunity for educational, non-disciplinary intervention for the incident,” according to the school's website.

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