Philly police suspend investigation into the death of Drexel basketball player Terrence Butler

Tributes to Drexel basketball player Terrence Butler have poured in across social media after news of his sudden passing was disclosed by the university on Wednesday.

Butler, a rising junior who was a reserve forward for the Dragons, was discovered dead in his on-campus housing Wednesday morning.

Philadelphia police told The Inquirer that officers responded to a call at 8:55 a.m. Wednesday to an apartment building on the 3400 block of Lancaster Avenue. A medic arrived and pronounced Butler dead about 30 minutes later, according to officer Miguel Torres, a police spokesperson.

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health confirmed late Thursday that Butler died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Southwest Detectives handled the investigation, which is “no longer active,” Torres said.

Drexel’s athletic department posted a release Thursday afternoon highlighting Butler’s achievements as an “active member of the campus community.” It also arrived alongside a statement from Butler’s parents, Dena and Terrence Butler, Sr., which read:

“Our family is heartbroken with the news of the passing of Terrence. Terrence was a gentle, kind soul who was a joy to be around. He was beloved by so many people and will be dearly missed. We appreciate the outpouring of love and support that we have received during this difficult time.”

The university announced that information regarding a memorial service “will be shared when it becomes available.”

The news from the athletic department followed an initial release Wednesday from the office of university president John Fry, with athletic director Maisha Kelly named among the signees in the statement, which also offered grief counseling information to those who are interested.

“On behalf of the entire Drexel community, we extend our deepest sympathy to Terrence’s family, friends, and teammates,” the statement read. “In addition to being a student-athlete, Terrence was involved in numerous activities and organizations at Drexel and was a friend to many throughout the university community.”

Butler, a 6-foot-7 forward from Upper Marlboro, Md., was a scholar-athlete who, according to his bio on last season’s roster page, planned to major in engineering. He was named to the Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll in the Colonial Athletic Association last season. In two seasons with the Dragons, Butler was plagued by a series of injuries that limited him to eight games.

Members of the Drexel men’s basketball program offered their thoughts on social media Wednesday. Amari Williams, a senior forward, and Jamie Bergens, a senior guard, posted via their Instagram stories: “Check up on your friends and family, you never know what’s going on! You won’t regret it.”

Several others on the team posted a quote that read, in part:

“Sending love to those whose mental health has been testing them lately, and much love to those trying to get back into the swing of things after an episode. If these words find you, remember everything comes in waves. You’re going to make it through this, just as you always have. Keep holding on, your journey is worth every ounce of effort.”

Before arriving at Drexel, Butler was a standout player at Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Md., where he was the basketball team’s most valuable player and a 2021 McDonald’s All American nominee.

“Bishop McNamara is deeply saddened by the loss of Terrence Butler,” the school said in a statement to The Inquirer. “Terrence was a treasured member of our school community, his class, and his team. He will be greatly missed. Our community is holding all of his family and friends in our prayers.”

Butler was the only son of Dena and Terrence Butler Sr. and the youngest of three children in a basketball family. Butler’s sister, Tasia, played for James Madison. His sister Tiara played at Syracuse.

“Rest easy, T Butler,” wrote Jeremy Myers on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Myers coached Butler during his days at Bishop McNamara, where he racked up all-conference honors. “Difficult day for the bball community … One of the most coachable and hardworking kid’s I’ve ever had. Scholar in the classroom!”

Inquirer staff writer Anna Orso contributed to this article.