College student falls to his death

AUSTIN, Texas – A University of Texas freshman died Friday morning after reportedly falling from the fifth floor of the private University Towers dormitory at 801 West 24th St.

An individual walking a dog reported Tyler Cross’ body outside the dormitory around 4:20 a.m. Friday.

Authorities do not suspect foul play, said Austin, Texas Police Department Detective James Mason.

Xavier Gutierrez was sitting on a couch in the apartment directly below Cross’ when he heard what he said sounded “like a beam fell, or a TV fell on the floor above.”

“People in other rooms and all over the tower felt it,” he said.

Cross was pronounced dead at Brackenridge Hospital Friday morning.

“The ambulance drove off slowly,” Gutierrez said. “You could tell there was nothing to be done.”

Cross lived with two of his classmates from his hometown of Marietta, Ga., where he attended the Lovett School.

At the Lovett School he was captain of both the lacrosse and football teams as well as an honor student, according to an obituary released by his parents. He was awarded the Peach Bowl Scholar Athlete Scholarship Award for Region 5-AA and selected twice to play for the Team Georgia All Star lacrosse team.