Colin Kaepernick Helping Fund Independent Autopsy for Trey Reed

An initiative started by activist and former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick will pay for a second, independent autopsy for a student who died by suicide on his college campus earlier this month.

Attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the family of the late De’Martravion “Trey” Reed, announced that Kaepernick’s “Know Your Rights Camp Autopsy Initiative” will cover the cost of the second autopsy, according to CBS affiliate WJTV and the New York Post.

The Cleveland Police Department (CPD) announced in a news release on Thursday, Sept. 18, that an autopsy conducted by the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s office determined that Reed, 21, had died by suicide. His family has challenged the finding.

“Trey’s death evoked the collective memory of a community that has suffered a historic wound over many, many years and many, many deaths,” Crump said in a statement, per the reports. “Peace will come only by getting to the truth. We thank Colin Kaepernick for supporting this grieving family and the cause of justice and truth.”

Crump’s office and Know Your Rights organizers did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.

Reed’s body was found hanging from a tree near the pickleball courts on the campus of Delta State University (DSU) on the morning of Monday, Sept. 15.

Vanessa J. Jones, an attorney representing Reed’s family, said the Grenada County Sheriff’s Department initially “informed the family that Trey was found dead in his dorm room, in his bed,” according to the Mississippi Free Press.

J.B. Reed, Reed’s grandfather, told ABC affiliate WAPT the comment was made by a member of the Bolivar County Sheriff’s Department, alleging that the individual indicated his grandson died by suicide.

When asked about the discrepancy about where Reed’s body was found at a press conference on Wednesday, Sept. 17, Delta State’s Director of Public Safety Mike Peeler said he did not have knowledge of any calls Reed’s grandfather received.

The Grenada County Sheriff’s Department and Bolivar County Sheriff’s Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Also at the press conference, Peeler said “there are videos and they’re in the hands of the investigative team,” but did not share additional details about the nature of the videos.

Crump has called for all video connected to the investigation to be shown to Reed’s family, according to WJTV.

After the results of Reed’s initial autopsy were released, Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell applauded the CPD as well as the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and DSU for their work “to bring closure” to Reed’s family.

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Tindell also said, “I condemn the rumors circulating about his death” after several posts on social media suggested Reed had sustained injuries that would have prevented him from hanging himself.

Peeler previously stated that there is no evidence of foul play in connection to Reed’s death and that there was no ongoing threat to campus safety, according to a past statement shared by university officials.

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