[caption id="attachment_73845" align="aligncenter" width="306"] Tragic: Conor MacMannis, 20, died early this morning after falling from a ninth floor balcony at the Penn Towers building on Beaver Avenue in Pennsylvania
[/caption]Student Dies in Nine Story Fall

A student at Penn State University fell to his death from a ninth-floor balcony early Saturday morning, reports the Washington Post.

The student was identified as Conor MacMannis, aged 20. The death is currently being considered as accidental. MacMannis was a high jumper for the school's track and field team and a kinesiology major.

The incident occurred around 3:45 a.m. at an off-campus housing complex, known as the Penn Towers, in State College. MacMannis was pronounced dead at the scene on Beaver Avenue. Police officers conducting a preliminary investigation have concluded that alcohol and drugs were involved in the fatal mishap.

'It's tragic,' Penn State spokeswoman Annemarie Mountz told Onward State. 'We're trying to come to grips with it ourselves. It's just so sad.'

The Centre Country, Pennsylvania coronor has determined MacMannis died from head injuries sustained in the fall.

His Father Andrew MacMinnis was a graduate of Penn State.

According to his Linkedin account, Andrew MacMinnis works in the Marine Air and Ground Task Force as the Pacific's maritime contingency force. He was also involved in the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief effort following Japan following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

The tragic death is the second in less than one year for the MacMannis family. Eight months ago, Conor's younger brother Aiden, 15, died unexpectedly, leaving the family devastated. The older MacMannis wrote a touching tribute on Facebook, stating that people should love and treasure their family members, regardless of the relationship quality, because it is uncertain how long they will be around.

Police are asking that anyone who has information regarding the Penn Towers incident or MacMannis to contact the station. Tips may be reported anonymously.

[caption id="attachment_73846" align="aligncenter" width="634"] Loving family: The MacMannis family (back, from left) Jack, mother Kathy, father Andrew, 20-year-old Conor, 20, and 15-year-old Aiden (front)[/caption]

On The Web:

Penn State student killed when he falls from ninth floor of apartment building
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/penn-state-student-killed-when-he-falls-from-ninth-floor-of-apartment-building/2013/11/16/1c10feec-4ee1-11e3-97f6-ed8e3053083b_story.html

Penn State high jumper, 20, falls to his death from ninth-floor balcony just eight months after his 15-year-old brother died
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2508453/Penn-State-high-jumper-20-falls-death-ninth-floor-balcony-just-months-15-year-old-brother-died.html

Student Dies After Ninth Story Fall at Penn Tower
http://onwardstate.com/2013/11/16/student-dies-from-falling-off-the-ninth-floor-of-penn-tower/