Contested death (2000 to present)

Dominique Alexander

Ruled suicide, disputedJun 9, 2020 · Age 27 · New York, NY

Who Dominique was

Dominique Alexander, called "Domo" by family and friends, was 27 and grew up in the Bronx.

His brother, Keats Alexander, says Dominique was loved by his family and his community. After his death, neighbors built a memorial outside the family's home with candles and pictures, and candles on the sidewalk spelled out "Domo" with a heart.

Portrait of Dominique Alexander — Photo courtesy of Change.org, via NewsOne · where it was shared

In the words of those who knew them

“He was definitely loved by his family and his community.”Keats Alexander, his brother, to the New York Daily News · source
“We remain resolute in our demands for a full and thorough investigation into Dominique's death.”Keats Alexander, his brother · source

What happened

Dominique Alexander, 27, of the Bronx, was found around 6 a.m. on June 9, 2020, at a tree along a path in Fort Tryon Park in Upper Manhattan, near The Cloisters. A passerby found him, police said, and emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene. On June 16 the city's Office of Chief Medical Examiner ruled the death a suicide. The next day an NYPD spokesperson said the investigation "continues."

His family didn't accept the ruling. His brother, Keats Alexander, said in a video that "at this time my family does not feel comfortable with calling Dominique's death a suicide," and the family pressed for a full and thorough investigation, Patch reported. Elected officials joined that call, and Mark Levine wrote that the case "should not be ruled a suicide without a full investigation." More than 100 people protested in Fort Tryon Park, the Amsterdam News reported. His death came in the same weeks that two Black men, Malcolm Harsch and Robert Fuller, were found hanging from trees in Southern California.

A #JusticeForDomo GoFundMe, started June 25, 2020, to pay for exhumation, an independent autopsy and legal fees, raised about $54,500. Its organizer, a family friend, wrote that the lead detective hadn't been fully transparent with the family. No independent autopsy results or NYPD conclusion have been reported publicly.

The case

Where found: Tree in Fort Tryon Park, Manhattan
Official finding: Suicide (New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner)
Time to finding: About one week, per El Diario NY
Investigation: NYPD said the investigation was ongoing as of June 2020.
Family position: His family disputes the suicide ruling and has demanded a full and thorough investigation. A fundraiser for an independent autopsy, exhumation and legal fees raised about $54,500; no results have been made public.
Public evidence: More than 100 people protested his death in Fort Tryon Park, per the Amsterdam News.
Federal review: None reported
Last verified: 2026-10-18

Sources

Record history

Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
Record updated
- What happened updated
- What happened sources updated
Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
Portrait added (Photo courtesy of Change.org, via NewsOne)
Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
Record updated
- Status: Ruled suicide, disputed
- Investigation: NYPD said the investigation was ongoing as of June 2020.
- Family position: His family disputes the suicide ruling and has demanded a full and thorough investigation. A fundraiser for an independent autopsy, exhumation and legal fees raised about $54,500; no results have been made public.
- Verification note: Blank
Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
Record updated
- Life updated
- Remembered updated
- Life sources updated
Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
Case added
- Name: Dominique Alexander
- Age: 27
- Date found: 2020-06-09
- City or county: New York
- State: NY
- Status: Ruled suicide
- Where found: Tree in Fort Tryon Park, Manhattan
- Official finding: Suicide (New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner)
- Time to finding: About one week, per El Diario NY
- Investigation: Police said he was found around 6 a.m. on June 9, 2020, on a path in Fort Tryon Park. Emergency workers declared him dead at the scene.
- Family position: Family said they didn't understand why he would take his own life (Amsterdam News). His brother told PIX11 he was loved by his family and community. No public family rejection of the ruling found.
- Public evidence: More than 100 people protested his death in Fort Tryon Park, per the Amsterdam News.
- Federal review: None reported
- Verification note: He lived in the Bronx; he was found in Manhattan. Status is ruled rather than disputed because the family voiced confusion but didn't publicly reject the finding in the sources read.
- Sources updated