New Details Arise After College Student From N.J. Died From Fraternity House Fall

New details have arisen as tributes have been pouring in for a New Jersey man attending Penn State who died from a fraternity house fall this past weekend, according to the university.

Timothy Piazza, 19, of Lebanon, N.J., was an engineering major in his fourth semester when he died on Friday, according to Lisa M. Powers, a Penn State spokeswoman.

Piazza allegedly fell down the basement stairs at about 11 p.m. Thursday at Beta Theta Pi’s fraternity house on Penn State’s campus, according to police.

But medical attention didn't arrive until the next morning - 11 hours later - when Piazza was found unconscious and unresponsive after first responders were notified by a caller about Piazza’s condition, according to police.

Police responded to the call at the fraternity house at 10:49 a.m. Friday, and Piazza was then taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center and later flown to Hershey Medical Center where he died, police said.

The fraternity released a statement, saying it's cooperating with authorities and that the university and fraternity have temporarily suspended chapter operations "during this period of investigation.”

"Our chapter is mourning the loss of Tim Piazza, a student who recently accepted an invitation to join our fraternity. It is believed that Tim’s death stemmed from an accidental injury sustained from a fall in the chapter house. We are working closely with our General Fraternity to determine how this happened, and are fully cooperating with police and Penn State administrators in their own investigations. While additional statements and information will be released once confirmed, our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family during this difficult time."

Penn State also released a statement of condolences to the family, saying that counseling services have been offered to students.

"Our deepest sympathy goes out to Tim's family and friends during this mournful time," Powers said in a statement. "Our Student Affairs staff through Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is reaching out to students who desire counseling. Anyone who feels they need assistance should not hesitate to contact CAPS."

Penn State canceled social activities on Saturday and State College police said an investigation is continuing.

"CAPS staff were on site at the fraternity house and met with groups of students on Saturday. Staff from Fraternity and Sorority Life were with the leadership in the house on Sunday," Powers said. "We continue to refer students who are struggling to the appropriate student affairs or community resources such as Residence Life, Counseling Center, Fraternity and Sorority Living, etc. CAPS staff are on alert and we are also using personal referrals to CAN HELP if individuals are in crisis and need individual attention. We have provided resources to the student leadership in the event we become aware of individuals who need immediate intervention."

Piazza was a 2015 graduate of Hunterdon Central Regional High School, and his older brother Michael also is a student at Penn State, according to mycentraljersey.com.

Timothy Piazza played football while at Hunterdon Central and was on the spring track team, taking part in shot put, javelin and discus, according to nj.com.

He also served as a Red Devil ambassador at Hunterdon Center and on the school's Teem Prevention Education Program. He volunteered with the Hunterdon Outreach Program to help teach special needs children football, basketball and baseball, according to nj.com.

Piazza was known for his charitable activities, taking part in the Hopeful Holidays and Readington's Holiday Gifts Program, donating Christmas and holiday gifts to those in need. In his junior and senior years he also tutored upper-level math and science, according to nj.com.

Tributes for Piazza have been posted on social media:

Photo: The Tab Penn State

Photo: Beta Theta Pi fraternity, Google Earth