UCI Fraternity Suspended as Police Investigate Student's Off-Campus Death

The weekend off-campus death of an 18-year-old UC Irvine student led to the suspension of a university fraternity, authorities said Monday.

Irvine, California police were dispatched at 9:42 a.m. Saturday to a home at Turtle Rock and Campus Drive in response to a man who was "unresponsive," according to Kim Mohr of the Irvine Police Department.

He was pronounced dead at the home.

The incident occured in a residential area off campus.

The man was identified as UCI student Noah Domingo, of La Crescenta.

The Interim Vice Chancellor Edgar J. Dormitorio from the UCI Student Affairs office sent out an email informing the campus community of the incident.

"Our hearts go out to the student's family and community of friends who have been impacted by this incident," the email said.

Police are awaiting the results of a coroner's investigation to determine a cause of death, and to determine if drugs or alcohol were factors, Mohr said.

UCI Chancellor Howard Gillman emailed students and educators Saturday, saying Domingo died "at an off-campus home during the overnight hours."

Gillman also noted an unrelated incident involving another student who was "seriously injured" while struck by a car Sunday on Campus Drive at Stanford Road.

"Our love and support go out to the students' friends and families during this unthinkably difficult time,'' Gillman wrote.

Dormitorio said the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity has been placed on interim suspension.

The Irvine Police Department and the Office of Academic Integrity & Student Conduct are working on the investigation.

"This means that the fraternity has been directed to cease all of its activities pending the investigation of the Irvine Police Department and review of the incident'' by the university, Dormitorio wrote in a statement to the campus community.

"Over the course of the next few days and weeks, we will be working with the Greek community at UCI to provide support to affected members,'' Dormitorio said. "We will also closely examine the larger context in which this tragedy occurred and will be working with the Greek community to help ensure that they are engaging in behaviors and practices that are in alignment with university policies and their own values.''