A Medill graduate student who served in Iraq has died, Dean John Lavine announced in an e-mail to Medill students Wednesday morning. The cause of death was suicide.

Justin Wallace Owen came to Northwestern this fall after completing his undergraduate work at Marquette University’s College of Communications and serving in Iraq as a U.S. Marine Corps Corporal from 2007-08, Lavine said.

Lavine added that he had spoken to Owen’s parents and they told him that the student greatly enjoyed his time at Medill.

More information about the death is not known.

Owen’s funeral will be Thursday The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Milwaukee, Lavine said. Visitation will be from 10 – 11 a.m., mass and funeral service will be from 11 a.m. – noon, followed by burial by the Marines at the War Memorial.

The staff at CAPS, the University’s Counseling and Psychological Services center, will be available for students, Lavine said.

Medill will be establishing a memorial in Owen’s honor graduate students with need. More information about The Justin Owen Memorial Fund. can be obtained by contacting Jenna Beasley, Medill Director of Development, at [email protected].

Check back for updates and a full story in Tuesday’s paper.