Missing West Point cadet's death ruled a suicide

ASAM NEWS
(Updated, 9 a.m., Oct. 24)

West Point announced that its missing cadet, Kade Kurita was found dead Tuesday night, CNN reports.

Kurita had been missing since Friday. Law enforcement began searching for 20-year old Kurita when he did not show up for a military skills competition that Friday. His M4 rifle was also missing. Officials said that he wasn’t believed to have any magazines or ammunition with him and therefore wasn’t a threat.

Before disappearing Friday, U.S. Military Academy Cadet Kade Kurita posted a short note on Snapchat, indicating his plan to end his life, according to an US Army official who asked to remain anonymous.

According to CBS, Kurita was found dead at 9:47 p.m. in the basement of a building on the campus. A single shot from his M4 rifle apparently ended his life.

West Point released a statement following the revelation of Kurita’s death.

“We are grieving this loss and our thoughts and prayers go out to Cadet Kurita’s family and friends,” said Lt. Gen. Darryl Williams, the academy’s superintendent.

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Family seeks to preserve sperm of their late son

WEST POINT

West Point Cadet Peter Zhu

ASAM NEWS

A Chinese American family is seeking a court order to preserve the sperm of a West Point Cadet on life support after a skiing accident, reports USA Today.

The Army Times reports Peter Zhu is part of the class of 2019 of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. A skier found him unresponsive on the West Point ski slope and doctors declared him brain dead February 27.

“When Peter was alive, he often told us how he wanted children of his own one day, and that he wanted to give us grandchildren,” his parents said in the court appeal. “It is also important to carry on Peter’s legacy for deeply personal cultural reasons as well.

“Our family comes from China and an extremely important part of our Chinese culture is the tradition of carrying on our family lineage,” said the family, who are residents of Concord, Calif.
On Friday, Zhu's parents obtained an order from a New York Supreme Court judge directing Westchester Medical Center to collect the sperm before doctors took him off life support and removed his organs so that they could be donated to those in need.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Zhu family during this difficult time," said Brig. Gen. Steve Gilland, commandant of cadets. “The entire West Point community is heartbroken over this tragedy. Peter was one of the top cadets in the Class of 2019, very well-known and a friend to all. He embodied the ideals of the Corps of Cadets and its motto of Duty, Honor, Country and all who knew Peter will miss him.”

Zhu, 21, was scheduled to be commissioned as a 2nd Lt. at this year's commencement ceremonies.

Views From the Edge contributed to this report.

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