A person died after having fallen from spectator stands to the ground level during Ohio State University’s graduation ceremony Sunday in Columbus, school leaders said.
The incident was under investigation. The identity of the deceased was unavailable.
The ceremony at Ohio Stadium featured entrepreneur Christopher Pan as the spring commencement speaker. A school spokesperson told NBC affiliate WCMH of Columbus the death did not affect the day’s schedule of events from noon to roughly 3 p.m.
The ceremony took place during a spring filled with controversy over pro-Palestinian protests and roiled by deadly tornadic activity from the Midwest to the South.
Ohio State University students staged multiple protests on campus criticizing Israel’s war in Gaza after Hamas’ Oct. 7 surprise attack on the country. They were widely characterized as peaceful.
Courtney Brogle, Maria Piñero and Karen Cortes contributed.