UST Student Joia Simpson Dies After Fall From Dinkytown Apartment Building
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A college student who fell to her death is being remembered for her smile.
University of St. Thomas freshman Joia Simpson fell from the 10th floor of a Dinkytown apartment building at about 1 a.m. Thursday. She was in the building for a Halloween party.
"As a community, we're always deeply saddened with an event like this," said Father Lawrence Blake, UST's chaplain.
Simpson was only two months into her freshman year. She was at a Halloween party on the top floor of the Bridges apartment building when she fell 10 stories.
"We think about a life cut short and, you know, only beginning her college career here," Father Blake said. "It's very, very tragic."
He spoke with her parents in California.
"Talking to mom, she said, 'Well please tell everybody to remember, as they remember Joia, to remember her beautiful smile,'" Blake said.
UST students deeply felt the loss as news moved across campus Thursday afternoon.
"I just can't even imagine what her family's going through and all her close friends and everything," said Lauren Julian, a UST freshman.
Julian lived in the same dorm and regrets not having the chance to get to know Simpson. She said her death has sparked conversation among friends.
"We were all talking about it, and just like talking about like what we need to do to about like being careful and like looking out for everyone around us," Julian said.
Police are waiting on the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's report, but said they are investigating what happened as an accident.