A 19-year-old dancer at California State University, Fullerton has died, just one week after another student from the university passed away in a separate incident.
On Monday, Nov. 17, Cal State Fullerton and the Titans Dance Team announced the death of Destiny Morris. In their joint statement, they shared their heartbreak with her family, coaches, teammates, sorority sisters, and the wider campus community.
“Though we grieve deeply, we take comfort in knowing she is now dancing with the angels, her spirit forever moving with grace above us,” the dance team wrote in an Instagram tribute. “She will forever remain part of our Titans family.”
Morris’ sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha, also honored her in a separate post.
“Her smile and laughter truly lit up every room and inspired all of us to carry the same positivity she had,” said Melissa Hashem, the chapter’s vice president of campus relations and incoming chapter president, in a statement. “Destiny had a natural way of making everyone around her feel loved and cared for. Her presence was enough to cheer us up.”
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A case record from the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner confirmed that Morris died inside a vehicle on Nov. 14. No additional details have been released, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Her death comes shortly after another tragedy on campus. On Nov. 7, Lauren Turner, a sophomore soccer player at Cal State Fullerton, died six weeks after a traumatic scooter crash that also seriously injured her teammate.
Turner was reportedly riding an e-scooter to a men’s soccer game on Saturday, Sept. 27 with teammate Ashlyn Gwynn when they were struck by a box truck around 7 p.m. local time, according to The Orange County Register.
In a GoFundMe launched to support Turner’s medical care, her family said she was “severely injured” and had been “battling severe head trauma” before being moved to hospice. They confirmed her death in an update to the fundraiser on Nov. 7, writing, “Our hearts are broken, and our family is forever changed.”
Gwynn remains hospitalized with serious injuries. In a GoFundMe update, her family said she has been moved to a “Step Down” unit and continues to show improvement. She is expected to undergo inpatient rehabilitation in Houston for several more weeks and may face up to two years of outpatient rehab.
The Sept. 27 crash is still under investigation. Authorities and university officials have not released further details about either incident.
As the campus community grieves, the Titans Dance Team is remembering Morris as someone who was “determined, dedicated, and a breath of fresh air.” A family friend has started a GoFundMe to support Morris’ family.
“She never failed to have a smile on her face and would always laugh at everyone’s jokes,” the team added in its tribute. “She had such a sweet and pure soul.”
“She never gave up or quit on anything that was hard,” the organization continued. “She inspired us to push through any obstacles that came our way. Her resilience is still carried with each and every one of us. She will be deeply missed. We will always and forever be dancing for you, Destiny.”
