George Mason student dies, police warn of dangerous hallucinogenic

FILE: A statue of George Mason stands in the heart of George Mason University's Fairfax campus in Fairfax, Virginia, Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010. George Mason University ranked No. 143 on the 2016 Best Colleges report from U.S. News and World Report. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

WASHINGTON — A student at George Mason University is dead after police say the student may have taken a hallucinogenic drug.

University police were called to the Potomac Heights Residence Hall, a campus dorm, at 4:41 p.m. on Saturday. A university spokesman said a 19-year-old sophomore was found unresponsive on the ground.

According to police interviews, students said the victim was on a hallucinogenic substance when he ran through a window on the fifth floor and fell to the ground.

University police say the student may have ingested a hallucinogenic substance and was transported to a hospital, where the student died.

Campus police say they were told that other students may also have the hallucinogenic. George Mason University Police Chief Carl Rowan is warning students of the dangers of the hallucinogenic drug.

The university has a medical amnesty program for students that have drug or alcohol-related incidents and those who seek help for them.

Police urge students that have taken the drug and are concerned for their safety to call 911 or university police at 703-993-2810.

The university has counseling services available for those closely impacted by the student’s death. Students needing to speak to a counselor can find resources online or can call 703-993-2830.

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