The University of Idaho Argonaut

A University of Idaho student died of alcohol poisoning Tuesday morning after celebrating his 21st birthday in Moscow.

Benjamin Harris, an architecture and interior design senior and Sigma Nu fraternity member, was pronounced dead at approximately 3 a.m. after paramedics took him to Gritman Medical Center. David Duke, Moscow Police Department assistant chief, said police responded to a call made around 2:40 a.m. from the Sigma Nu fraternity, and officers found Harris on the third floor outside the sleeping porch of the house.

Duke said Harris was unconscious on the floor when they arrived, and it appeared he was not breathing. Officers performed CPR until emergency medical technicians arrived five minutes later and transported Harris to Gritman.

Police were told by fraternity members that Harris and three other friends had gone out to celebrate his birthday and visited four clubs in the downtown Moscow area, Duke said.

“The shots of alcohol were taken sometime between 9:30 and midnight,” Duke said. “We believe at the minimum of 15 shots had been taken. As far as total amount — it would be hard to determine that.”

He said they believe more alcohol was consumed than originally reported, but they are waiting for toxicology reports to return in six weeks to know a more accurate amount.