Home Scandal and Gossip Why? Zach Hollywood suicide: Ball State player kills self after cryptic warning

Why? Zach Hollywood suicide: Ball State player kills self after cryptic warning

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Zach Hollywood
Pictured Ball State University sophomore student, Zach Hollywood. Far right pictured with his recently deceased mother,
Zach Hollywood
Pictured Ball State University sophomore student, Zach Hollywood. Far right pictured with his recently deceased mother, Susan Hollywood.

What led to Zach Hollywood a rising Ball State University basketball player taking his own life? Death comes after cryptic tweets and voicemails to fellow players.

Zach Hollywood a 19 year old Ball State University, Indiana basketball player has died after killing himself told authorities.

The teen’s suicide death comes after having posted cryptic tweets just hours before his death on Tuesday. It wasn’t immediately clear how Hollywood died. 

A report via The Star Press told of Hollywood’s suicide taking place at the sophomore’s off campus apartment, at Varsity House Apartments in the 3000 block of North Oakwood Avenue in Muncie, just before 1pm.

Tweeted Hollywood some seven hours before his body was discovered, ‘Be careful what you say to everyone because you don’t know what kind of battles they are going through.’

Read a fifth tweet the youth had posted at 5.24am: ‘Just so everyone knows I did not cheat If you want the truth ask tony or the police because they’ll have my phone.’

It remains unclear what Hollywood was referring to when he mentioned cheating, or who was the mysterious ‘tony.’

Prior to taking his own life, Hollywood left multiple voicemails for his teammate and close friend Trey Moses, who tweeted later: ‘I just listened to he [sic] voicemails you left me bro … I LOVE YOU SO DAMN MUCH , I promise you I’m gonna make it for us bro.’

In a related tweet, Moses wrote he was sorry for missing Hollywood’s calls that morning because he was asleep.

‘I feel I coulda stopped it…. I love you bro. we’re gonna make it,’ he tweeted.

Responding to Hollywood’s suicide death, Ball State described the sophomore’s demise ‘a tragedy.’

‘Zach has been a part of our family for the past year,’ the statement read. ‘During his time on campus, he was a member of men’s basketball team and made many positive impressions throughout campus.’

Weighing on what may have compelled Hollywood, a Bradley, Illinois native, in taking his own life, was the loss of his mother, Susan Hollywood, a year ago. She was 49 years old with Zach being her only child.

Noted Susan Hollywood’s obituary, in part, as it appeared in The Daily Journal: ‘Her life revolved around sports and she was her son’s biggest sports fan.’ 

Ball State coach James Whitford offered his condolences to the Hollywood family Wednesday, calling the 19-year-old ‘a terrific young man with an incredibly bright future in front of him.’

‘His loss is a true tragedy for all those who knew and loved him,’ Whitford said in a statement. ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected, especially Zach’s family. This is an incredibly hard moment for everyone.’ 

Zachary Hollywood
Pictured Ball State University sophomore student, Zach Hollywood.
Zach Hollywood
Zach Hollywood was found dead at Varsity House Apartments in the 3000 block of North Oakwood Avenue in Muncie, Indiana (pictured).

Hollywood, a 6-foot-9 forward, redshirted last season as a freshman and was expected to play a significant role for the Cardinals this season, reported WISH-TV.

He chose Ball State after averaging 17.5 points and 7.8 rebound during his senior season at Bradley-Bourbonnais High School CBS Sports reported.

The school encouraged anyone who needed help coping with Hollywood’s death to seek out help on or off campus.

An autopsy to determine Hollywood’s exact cause of death had been scheduled for Wednesday.

Zach Hollywood
Zach Hollywood pictured with his team mate and close friend, Trey Moses.

Zach Hollywood
Hollywood pictured with his recently deceased mother, Susan Hollywood.
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