Columbus Crew's Kirk Urso dies unexpectedly

Columbus Crew midfielder Kirk Urso died early Sunday morning.

Urso, 22, was pronounced dead at the Grant Medical Center in Columbus after being attended to at a bar in the city at about 1 a.m., according to multiple reports. The circumstances of Urso’s death are not yet known, the Crew said in a Sunday press release, but an autopsy is scheduled for Monday, according to multiple reports.

“The thoughts and prayers of the entire Columbus Crew and Hunt Sports Group are with the Urso family in this time of need,” the Crew said in the release.

The Franklin County Coroner’s office did not immediately respond to The Lantern’s Sunday request for comment.

Urso’s started against the Buckeyes in the May 1 Connor Senn Memorial match. Urso started in midfield for the Crew, firing two shots during the rain-shortened game.

Moments of silence were held in Urso’s honor during the two Major League Soccer matches on Sunday and several prominent figures in the American soccer community also reacted to Urso’s death.

MLS commissioner Don Garber, from his Twitter account, @thesoccerdon, said Saturday: “We are deeply saddened by the death of Columbus Crew player Kirk Urso. MLS mourns his death and sends our condolences to his family.”

Crew forward Justin Miram tweeted from his account at about 2 a.m.: “Full of smiles and always making us all laugh and brought so much joy! #RIP #KirkUrso”

Eric Gehrig, another of Urso's teammates, tweeted: “Locker neighbor and my chi-town brotha, RIP Kirk Urso. You were a great kid with a bright future. Hard to understand. Love ya man.”