Death causes unveiled

Peijia Zhang and Tyler McNulty

A death report from the Cambria County Coroner Jeffrey Lees’ office said former Pitt-Johnstown student Samuel Pesto died March 29 from suicide at his residence in Johnstown.

He was 20 years old.

The death was caused by a gunshot wound to the head, according to the report.

A campus memorial service scheduled for Friday was canceled. A new date was yet to be determined, according to Student Government Treasurer Joe Evanko.

Pitt-Johnstown President Jem Spectar sent a campuswide email with a condolence message about Pesto’s death March 30.

A Tribune-Democrat’s obituary said Pesto, a junior chemistry student, was from Westmont. He was a 2014 Bishop McCort Catholic High School graduate, according to the obituary.

According to another death report, student Nicholas Roberts died from an accidental fentanyl overdose.

Roberts was found unresponsive Feb. 25 in his Briar 2 room.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid similar to morphine, much more powerful than morphine.

Roberts won the Division II national wrestling championship last year. He transferred from Ohio State to Pitt-Johnstown prior to the 2015 season.