By Connor Lālea Hampton, August 25, 2026
(Disclaimer: This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org. Please refer to these resources or the ones linked at the end of the article if you or someone else needs help.)
A 20-year-old female resident of The Current, an off-housing campus complex of Cal Poly Pomona, was pronounced dead in the residence Tuesday, August 5, by suicide.
Pomona Police Department Public Information Officer Aly Mejia confirmed the death to be a suicide via email. She wrote the Pomona Police Department received a call for service August 5 around 12:17 p.m. and arrived at the scene by 12:22 p.m.. Firefighters pronounced the resident dead at 12:34 p.m.
A source from the University Police Department confirmed Pomona PD responded to the call. Although The Current was recently purchased by CPP, it’s not yet under its jurisdiction.
The university sent out a community email regarding the student’s death the day of the incident. The message read that the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office and emergency personnel responded to a death at The Current, but there was no danger to residents or the surrounding area. Support resources for students and staff were also included.
David Laxamana, the director of student housing, said there was a counselor as well as senior staff on-site the week following the death. The university also connected some students with Mt. San Antonio College and community resources because not all residents who live at The Current attend CPP.
Prior to the acquisition of the property by CPP, The Current did not have Resident Assistant staff. Now there are ten RAs living on the property who are trained in supporting students.
Dean of Students Weston Prisbrey said the university plays a significant role in providing support to students during any event that may impact their academic performance or well-being. That includes getting them connected to services on campus, like the Care Center and Counseling and Psychological Services, as well as working closely with the University Police.
“We want to make it clear that all of these services are available for any student at any time, right?” Prisbrey said. “We understand that traumatic incidents happen.”
Prisbrey said the university encourages students to be proactive and connect themselves to resources before difficult times hit, so they feel prepared and confident to find the support they need. If there is not an immediate concern, any member of the CPP campus community, including students, friends, parents and those who don’t attend CPP, can submit a student of concern referral form that goes to the Care Center.
“Someone may be hesitant to engage in services, we understand, we get that, and it’s optional, right?” Prisbrey said. “They don’t have to connect with us, but we will do everything in our effort to attempt to connect with that individual, and even if the student does not choose to connect with us, we always send, like, a robust email of resources, so that if the student chooses to look at those resources in the future or wants to eventually connect back with the Care Center, we’re prepared and ready to do that.”
Suicide is a serious public health issue, according to the World Health Organization. Rethink Mental Illness, a mental health services provider, explains that activities such as talking to a trusted individual, participating in hobbies, and creating a crisis plan or box can help with heavy suicidal feelings or intentions. Understanding what triggers, such as music, photos, or movies, might make an individual feel worse can also help avoid a sudden onset of such feelings.
Distraction and mindfulness are the most effective when aiming to reduce intense suicidal thoughts, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
The NIH says the warning signs of suicide include:
- Talking about wanting to die, great guilt or shame and being a burden to others.
- Feeling empty, hopeless, trapped, or having no reason to live, extremely sad, more anxious, or full of rage and unbearable emotional or physical pain.
- Changing behavior, such as planning or researching ways to die, withdrawing from friends, saying goodbye, giving away important items, or making a will. Additionally, taking dangerous risks, such as driving extremely fast, displaying extreme mood swings, eating and sleeping more or less, and using drugs or alcohol more often.
If someone comes to you with suicidal thoughts, it is recommended that you do not leave the person alone. The NIH outlines five steps to take to help someone who is having thoughts of suicide and includes a link to learn more about suicide prevention on the National Institute of Mental Health’s webpage detailing, “5 Action Steps to Help Someone Having Thoughts of Suicide.”
Feature image courtesy of Connor Lālea Hampton