Ithaca College student stabbed to death at Cornell University

The 19-year-old business administration major was at a student-organized event in the Cornell student union with hundreds of other students, when a fight broke out, according to police.

A large fight broke out early Sunday morning after an event at Willard Straight Hall hosted by the fraternity Omega Psi Phi, according to the Ithaca College student newspaper. Nazaire was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

A police news release said they found two men who had been stabbed, and they treated the two victims and recovered the weapons used.

Friends, family and press gathered for a candlelight vigil this morning outside the Nazaire family residence on Newkirk Avenue.

Ithaca College President Tom Rochon tearfully described how Nazaire’s mother dropped him off at college and helped him unpack his belongings, only to return nine days later to take everything back home.

Nazaire’s ambitions started in the Brooklyn Theatre Arts High School in Canarsie, where his excellent performance scored him a scholarship that allowed him to go to Ithaca College to study business.

Police haven’t said what touched off the melee. “This is our first homicide since 2011 and even before that it was 2004.just four short years ago we were voted ‘Safest Small City in America, ‘” Public Information Officer of the Ithaca Police Department, Jamie Williamson said.

“In the meantime, I hope you will hold these students – along with their families, friends, classmates, and professors – in your thoughts and prayers at this hard and tragic time”, said Ithaca College president Tom Rochon. Surveillance videos showed some bystanders recording the fight on their phones.

David Maley, senior associate director of media and community relations at the college, said the college has reached out to “those that we believe might be most immediately affected by this on campus”, offering them support.

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“I ask that you keep Anthony’s family, the student who was injured, and their friends and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers”, Rochon said.

Meanwhile, both schools said that counseling would be available to students, faculty and staff.