Photo: Citizen reporter
Telegraph Avenue, to the left, was blocked off at Durant on Wednesday morning. Photo: @trynriley

Update, Feb. 25, 4:20 p.m. The coroner’s office has identified the woman who died as 25-year-old Hanaa Djouider, and classified the case as an apparent suicide. The cause of death was listed as multiple blunt injuries. She is listed in the UC Berkeley campus directory.

Update, 6:35 p.m. Police have identified the woman who died in the 2300 block of Telegraph Avenue on Wednesday morning as a 25-year-old Berkeley resident. Police got the call at 5:35 a.m. Authorities are investigating the case as an apparent suicide, said BPD spokeswoman Officer Jennifer Coats. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Telegraph Avenue was closed between Durant Avenue and Bancroft Way for approximately four hours during the investigation.

Original story, 12:01 p.m. The Berkeley Police Department is investigating an apparent suicide early Wednesday morning near the UC Berkeley campus.

Few details have been released, but many people in the area noticed that Telegraph Avenue was blocked off to traffic between Durant Avenue and Bancroft Way on Wednesday. A coroner’s van was on the scene, along with many other emergency vehicles.

The incident took place around 5:30 a.m. According to preliminary reports, a young woman appears to have fallen from the roof of a multi-story building in the 2300 block of Telegraph.

Berkeleyside will update this post if additional information becomes available. Scroll down to learn more about some of the warning signs of suicide, and where to go for help.

Warning signs of suicide

  • Talking about wanting to die
  • Looking for a way to kill oneself
  • Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose
  • Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
  • Talking about being a burden to others
  • Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
  • Acting anxious, agitated or recklessly
  • Sleeping too little or too much
  • Withdrawing or feeling isolated
  • Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
  • Displaying extreme mood swings

The more of these signs a person shows, the greater the risk. Warning signs are associated with suicide but may not be what causes a suicide.

What to do

If someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide:

  • Do not leave the person alone
  • Remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt
  • Call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255)
  • Take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional

Alameda County offers a 24-hour crisis support line for those seeking mental health assistance. The support line can be reached at 800-309-2131. 

Emilie Raguso (former senior editor, news) joined Berkeleyside in 2012 and covered politics, public safety and development until her departure in 2022. In 2017, Emilie was named Journalist of the Year...