Kosta Karageorge, the missing Ohio State University (OSU) senior, has been found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
According to Cleveland.com, police found Karageorge Sunday in a dumpster behind his apartment building with a handgun near the body. A backup defensive tackle on the OSU football team, Karageorge had been missing since early Wednesday morning.
Karageorge was supposed to be honored among the other Buckeyes seniors at Saturday's home game against rival Michigan. He was also formerly a member of the OSU wrestling team.
"The Ohio State University Department of Athletics was shocked and saddened to learn today of the death of student-athlete Kosta Karageorge, a senior from Columbus," OSU said in a statement, according to USA Today. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the Karageorge family, and those who knew him, during this most difficult time."
His case may be another tragic example of the dangers of concussions. Members of the Karageorge family expressed concern over his past head injuries as soon as his disappearance became known. They said he showed worrisome signs even though he was treated and followed instructions from team doctors.
Kosta's mother shared a text message she received from her son the night he went missing with CNN. Karageorge had gone for a walk around 2 a.m. Wednesday dressed in all black and sent his mother a text just before.
"I am sorry if I am an embarrassment but these concussions have my head all f---ed up," the message read.
Hours after his body was identified, hundreds of OSU students gathered for a vigil. According to Cleveland.com, about a dozen people shared stories of Kosta Karageorge, portraying him as a gentle giant who was thoughtful, loyal and intense.
The vigil lasted about 30 minutes and those who spoke ranged from teammates to friends he had from high school to people he had recently met in class. They all reportedly told of a friend everyone hopes to have.
