Elmhurst star dies on college court

BY ADAM MISCH

Wednesday, October 14, 2009 5:01 PM EDT

A freshman ready to join the Farmingdale State College team, collapsed on the court and died shortly afterwards during a pick-up basketball game on Monday, October 2. Authorities are still looking into the cause of his death.

Dominic Murray, a 17-year-old from East Elmhurst, was recruited to play basketball at Farmingdale and moved into the dormitories on campus. At about 8:30 p.m. during the recreational game, Murray suddenly collapsed and campus police and emergency were called to the scene to try to revive him.

Kathy Coley, director of communications at Farmingdale State College, said that the campus police rushed to the gym and immediately called an emergency vehicle to take the teen to the New Island Hospital in Bethpage, where he was later pronounced dead.

“It’s tragic and from what I hear from students, he was much loved and very popular,” Coley said. “I didn’t know him personally, but I’ve seen the effect that he’s had on the students and they are all crushed.”

The young 6-foot-2 athlete graduated from Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School in Flushing. Murray received a full basketball scholarship to Mercy College, but decided that his academics came first, and chose to go to Farmingdale rather than to Mercy.

Murray was an only child; his father passed away while he was a freshman in high school. His mother, Melinda, recently issued a statement through the college about her son.

“He was much loved – he loved to compete, play basketball and I was very proud of him,” said Melinda, who resides in East Elmhurst.

Friends and loved ones will hold a memorial service for Murray on an undisclosed date, but for now, his school friends started the grieving process by sharing their thoughts and memories on a Facebook group for their fallen friend.

“You don’t ever expect 17-year-olds to die doing something that they love,” Coley said.

On campus, counseling was made available 24/7