In the autumn of 2019, the community of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, was struck by the untimely death of Michael Eric Somerville. A 21-year-old male, Michael was a student at Bloomsburg University, carving out a path for himself in the field of digital forensics. On Tuesday, October 29, 2019, he died in his Montour Township home. The cause of his death was determined to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and the Columbia County Coroner officially ruled the manner of death as a suicide.
In the wake of this ruling, there was no criminal investigation, and consequently, no arrests were made, nor were any suspects identified.
Michael was a 2016 graduate of Bloomsburg High School, where he had been a standout student-athlete. He was known for his involvement in the STEM program and for taking advanced college-level courses at Bloomsburg University while still in high school. His athletic abilities were notable, as he was a multi-sport athlete, participating in football, basketball, baseball, and track and field. His talents on the football field earned him a spot on the 2016 Lions International All-Star Football Game. After high school, he initially attended Shippensburg University, where he was a member of the 2017 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championship football team, before transferring to Bloomsburg University.
Beyond his academic and athletic pursuits, Michael was remembered for his engaging personality and his love for the outdoors. Those who knew him described him as someone with an 'awesome sense of humor' and an 'infectious laugh.' He shared a passion for rabbit hunting and training beagles with his father. His sudden death was a profound loss for his family, friends, and the Bloomsburg University community, which mourned the passing of a young man who seemed to have a bright future ahead of him. The university offered counseling services to students and staff to help them cope with the tragic news.
