Dean D. Sturgis, a 63-year-old male of unspecified ethnicity, tragically died on November 29, 2015, in Columbus, OH. He was a former security officer at the Ohio State University Department of Public Safety who had resigned in 2009 to avoid termination. Sturgis shot himself at the Wexner Center for the Arts, causing significant damage to artwork before his death.
The incident was shocking and traumatic for the community, and Ohio State University police, along with Columbus police, responded to the scene.
Sturgis had a history of troubling behavior, including conflicts with co-workers and inappropriate conduct. He had been involved in several incidents at the Wexner Center, including making vulgar jokes and inappropriate physical contact with a student employee. His personnel file revealed multiple reprimands and suspensions for his behavior. Two days before his death, Sturgis was seen at the Wexner Center making disparaging comments about the artwork.
The investigation into Sturgis' death included a search of his trailer, where police found several empty gun cases and ammunition. The search warrant revealed that Sturgis had vandalized and shot several pieces of artwork, and he had threatened security officers during the incident. The Wexner Center for the Arts and Ohio State University conducted internal reviews of their security procedures following the incident.
No arrests or suspects were identified in connection with Sturgis' death, as it was determined to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The incident did not pose an ongoing threat to the campus community, and the Wexner Center was closed temporarily for repairs and investigation.
In summary, Dean D. Sturgis' death was a tragic event marked by his history of troubling behavior and conflicts with co-workers, culminating in a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the Wexner Center for the Arts. The incident led to a thorough review of security procedures at the center and the university.
