The police chief in Northfield, Vermont said Monday the death of Daniel Bermudez, of Norwalk, at a local military college was not due to foul play as family and friends continue to mourn his loss.
Bermudez collapsed during a training exercise Jan. 15 at Norwich University, a military school that also serves civilian students. He received medical care at the scene and on the way to the hospital, Chief Pierre Gomez said, but he couldn’t be revived.
Gomez said his department conducted an investigation and determined that Bermudez’s death had no criminal aspect. The death, he said, was an “unfortunate” incident.
Gomez declined to give Bermudez’s age but said the Norwalk man was a freshman at the university. He also declined to release Bermudez’s cause of death, referring all questions to the Vermont Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, which could not be reached for comment Monday.
Bermudez was a second-semester freshman who was part of the Corps of Cadets receiving military training as part of their schooling, a spokesman for the university said.
“Other students praised him for the type of individual he was,” the spokesman said. “They said he was driven.”
The school held a vigil that was attended by more than 600 students who were part of the Corps of Cadets as well as civilian students, the spokesman said.
A celebration of his life will be held after his family holds his funeral, the spokesman for the school said.
There was a moment of silence for Bermudez at all five of the school’s athletic events with members of Bravo company, which he was a part of, in attendance at each event, the spokesman said.
Bermudez, who was set to graduate in 2028, died on Jan. 15, Lt. Gen. John Broadmeadow, the president of the university, said in a statement posted on social media.
Bermudez is from Norwalk and attended public schools in the city, including Nathan Hale Middle School and Norwalk High School.
A visitation will be held for Bermudez Tuesday from 5 to 9 p.m. at Raymond Funeral Home in Norwalk. His funeral service will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at St. Matthew Roman Catholic Church in Norwalk, followed by a graveside service at St. John’s Cemetery, also in Norwalk.
His name is listed as Daniel Andres Rojas Davila on the funeral home’s website.
Friends started a GoFundMe account for Bermudez’s family saying he was “loved deeply” by his family and the other students and the community at Norwich University.
The proceeds of the fundraiser will be directly donated to his family to help with any costs incurred in making arrangements for services, the GoFundMe said.
As of Monday the fundraising effort surpassed $15,000.
“The loss has deeply affected our entire campus community, and we are united in our grief. Our thoughts and condolences are with Daniel’s family, friends, and all those who were close to him,” Broadmeadow said in the post.
“In response to this tragedy, we are dedicating all available resources through our Counseling and Wellness Center to support our students, faculty, and staff during this difficult time,” he said in the post. “The bonds that unite us at Norwich are strong, and we will continue to provide care and comfort to one another in the coming days and weeks.”
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