COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Franklin County coroner says an autopsy determined an Ohio State football player died of a gunshot wound, but she hasn’t yet definitively ruled it a suicide.
A special examination will look for signs of traumatic brain injury in an Ohio State football player found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, Dr. Anahi Ortiz said. The examination by an Ohio State neuropathologist is being done because Kosta Karageorge had a reported history of multiple concussions.
Columbus police said Sunday that Karageorge died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Head football coach Urban Meyer was asked about the reports of concussions during his regular Monday media luncheon but an athletic department spokesman had already warned reporters Meyer would not be able to comment on individual students’ medical treatment.
“I was told not to address anything,” Meyer said. “I can say this, this is the best group of medical people I’ve ever been around, the way they handle their business and the attention to detail.”
Karageorge’s mother, Susan, told police in a missing-person’s report that her son had had several concussions.
Karageorge was a wrestler for three years and joined the football team as a walk-on this season. Teammates from both teams attended a vigil Sunday.
Meyer said Karageorge’s friends could rally around their mutual grief, though he was at a loss to explain how he and his staff could help.
“You can look at a coaching manual and I’m not sure you’ll find anything. But the tighter the group, the better opportunity. You’ll never get over it. It’s an opportunity to — I’m not sure if ‘learn’ is the appropriate word either — but just continue to grow and stay on your journey,” he said.
Karageorge, 22, was a graduate of Thomas Worthington High School.
Funeral and memorial service arrangements are pending.