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NYPD Investigating Suicide Of Black Man Found Hanging From Tree In Manhattan Park
By
Ben Yakas
Published Jun 17, 2020
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Jun 17, 2020
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The death of a Black man whose body was found hanging from a tree in Fort Tryon Park last week has been ruled a suicide.
Bronx resident Dominique Alexander, 27, was found on a path in the park near The Cloisters around 6 a.m. on June 9th, and was pronounced dead at the scene. The city's medical examiner said on Tuesday that Alexander's cause of death was ruled to be a "suicide by hanging."
An NYPD spokesperson told Gothamist on Wednesday that the investigation into Alexander's death "continues."
“We are just trying to grieve,” Alexander's brother, Keats Alexander, told the Daily News yesterday. “He was definitely loved by his family and his community. It’s just so much."
At least two other Black men have been found hanged from trees in other parts of the country in the last couple weeks. Malcolm Harsch, 38, was found hanging from a tree in a homeless encampment in Victorville, California on May 31st. Police said there were "no indications at the scene that suggested foul play," and ruled the death a suicide. But Harsch's family, who live in Ohio, have questioned that ruling.
“Malcolm had very recent conversations with his children about seeing them soon. He didn’t seem to be depressed to anyone who truly knew him," the family said in a statement. "EVERYONE who knew our brother was shocked to hear that he allegedly hung himself and don’t believe it to be true as well as the people who were there when his body was discovered … There are many ways to die but considering the current racial tension, a black man hanging himself from a tree definitely doesn’t sit well with us right now. We want justice not comfortable excuses.”
Two weeks later, 24-year-old Robert Fuller was also found hanging from a tree in Palmdale, California on June 10th. The L.A. County Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner initially ruled it a suicide, based on the fact that there was no evidence of foul play, but the family disputed the circumstances, and the L.A. County Sheriff's Department is now investigating the death. The FBI has also announced that they are looking into both Fuller’s and Harsch’s deaths.
Yesterday, it was reported that the NYPD hate crimes unit is investigating a noose which was found hanging from a tree in a Harlem park last weekend.
If someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide: do not leave the person alone; remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt; and call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional.
Tagged
suicide
fort tryon park
manhattan
nypd
Dominique Alexander
death
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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