Temple Suicide: Tobi Lim Sonstroem's Campus Death Leaves Students Struggling (VIDEO)

Temple University in Pennsylvania is struggling to understand a shocking suicide that took place in the middle of their campus Thursday night, when a 25-year-old former student fatally shot himself in the head.

Tobi Lim Sonstroem, from Berwyn, Penn., died at the scene, according to reports. The shooting took place at one of the busiest areas on campus and Sonstroem was reported to be alone at the time.

"We all are in a state of disbelief," John Nguyen, an alumnus and friend of Sonstroem, told Temple News, the student newspaper. "We can't believe he is gone."

Friends described himas having "his stuff together" without any clear signs that he was suicidal."

The shooting took place on the Main Campus near a 7-Eleven store around 6:30 p.m.

"I'll never look at that spot the same," Nathaniel Fox, a TU senior who saw Sonstroem fall to ground after he shot himself told Temple News. "I never would have thought I would see that. In that split second I saw him die."

Friends described him as having "his stuff together" without any clear signs that he was suicidal.

Sonstroem's page at the website Coroflot said he attended the Tyler School of Art at Temple. Sonstroem had been working at PGW in Philadelphia and doing freelance work since he received a Bachelor's in Fine Arts from Temple. He was a former graphic design student at Temple who last attended the school in 2010.

Charles Leone, deputy director of Campus Safety Services, said Monday it was a difficult situation to deal with. Campus Safety sent out electronic alerts to students within a half-hour of the shooting, advising not that their was danger, but to avoid the area while police examined the scene.

"Emotions were flying. We're all professionals. I know we're supposed to put our feelings aside. But It's really difficult," Leone said. "Your heart just stops."

Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Students react to apparent suicide on campus from The Temple News on Vimeo.

Comments

[focusedoc]

02:36 PM on 02/09/2012

Wow,

I went to Temple and graduated this past Spring. Sad to hear something like happened and I wish his family all the comfort possible despite this tragedy. I hope they find comfort in the good memories of his life.

[roshni]

05:49 PM on 02/08/2012

Misleading headlines. This was a former student who committed suicide on Temple's campus.

[focusedoc]

02:44 PM on 02/09/2012

Not sure if it's misleading because he did do it in the middle of campus. and not sure that the headline really matters.

[cuoi]

05:36 PM on 02/08/2012

People sometimes put on a happy facade when deep inside they are troubled. Reminds me of Smokey's song, Tracks of My Tears:
"People say I'm the life of the party
Because I tell a joke or two
Although I might be laughing loud and hearty
Deep inside I'm blue
So take a good look at my face
You'll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer, it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears.."