• Welcome to BradleyFans.com! Visitors are welcome, but we encourage you to sign up and register as a member. It's free and takes only a few seconds. Just click on the link to Register at the top right of the page, and follow instructions. If you have any problems or questions, click on the link at the bottom right of the page to Contact Us.

BU soccer player dies in house fire

S

Scouter

New member
Just got an e-mail from Bradley PR director Kath Conver saying soccer player Danny Dahlquist died early this morning in a house fire. Certainly, our thoughts and prayers to go to the team and his family, who both work at BU. Here's the e-mail:

Danny Dahlquist, a 19-year-old member of the Bradley University Soccer team, died early Sunday morning as the result of a house fire at his off-campus residence. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to the entire Dahlquist family at this most difficult of times," said Bradley Director of Athletics Ken Kavanagh. "The shocking sadness of this tragedy has stunned everyone in the Bradley family. Danny's passing hurts at the core, especially because we know how proud he was to have earned the privilege to be a Brave. The pain of his passing will be felt well beyond Bradley University, however, as he was also beloved throughout the community."

Grief counseling is being provided to team members.

"The Bradley family has experienced a great loss today and we grieve at the passing of a fine young man," added Bradley University President Joanne Glasser. "We appreciate the many expressions of sympathy and ask for continued support and prayers for the Dahlquist family, team members, Athletics staff, and the entire Bradley community."

A graduate of Peoria Notre Dame High School, Dahlquist joined the Braves in 2006 and redshirted as a true freshman. A midfielder, he helped Notre Dame to the 2004 Illinois High School Association Class A state championship as a junior, then led the Irish to a 20-2-0 record as a team captain during his senior season in 2005.

Danny Dahlquist is the son of Bradley University Senior Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Finance Craig Dahlquist and Tricia Dahlquist, a member of the English Department faculty. He also is survived by six younger siblings.

Funeral arrangements are pending and those details will be shared as soon as they are available.
Click to expand...

Here's Dahlquist's player page on bubraves.com:
http://www.bubraves.com/ViewArticle...13&DB_OEM_ID=3400&ATCLID=520416&Q_SEASON=2007
 
Very sad, as my own son played both soccer and basketball against Danny's teams when they were growing up and it afforded me a great chance to get to know his father Craig who has been a long time fixture in the Athletic Department at Bradley.
Such a terrible tragedy and our prayers and thoughts are with the Dahlquists.
 
Terribly tragic day for the Dahlquist family. I have known Craig, his dad for over 25 years- a great family..

Condolences to Craig, his wife and the rest of their kids...
 
RIP Danny, had the opportunity to meet him a few times thru work at Bradley, was really upbeat and loved his soccer. Danny also has a facebook account if you want to leave a message on his personal site.

Jason
 
My condolences to the family, friends, and teammates of Danny. Glad to see noone else was hurt. I certainly hope that the roommates currently in jail are cleared and that this was an accidental house fire. I have read a bunch of the atricles online and all them just mention the roommates/teammates are being held and can be held up to 48 hrs without formal charges. The only thing remotely suspicious I read was in this WEEK article: http://www.week.com/news/local/9126331.html

"West Peoria Fire department officials say they got a 911 call around 4:00 Sunday morning and were at the home in a matter of minutes. Authorities say the fire only took place in Dahlquist's bedroom on the second floor."
 
The report is that as a prank was being played on Danny who had fallen asleep earlier than his housemates. Reportedly they shot a roman candle under his door which started the fire inside. This was also the reason as to why the fire was only in his room. Apparently the other three did not know anything was wrong until Danny didn't follow them out of the house when they found out there was a fire. The three have a 500k bail and are being charged with aggravated arson.
 
Fyrebyrd said:
The report is that as a prank was being played on Danny who had fallen asleep earlier than his housemates. Reportedly they shot a roman candle under his door which started the fire inside. This was also the reason as to why the fire was only in his room. Apparently the other three did not know anything was wrong until Danny didn't follow them out of the house when they found out there was a fire. The three have a 500k bail and are being charged with aggravated arson.
Click to expand...

Here's the link for the pj star report.

http://www.pjstar.com/php/index.php?/news/peoria_roommates_face_aggravated_arson_charges/

I've known Danny since he came to BU and haven't met a nicer guy in my time here. I miss him terrribly already.
 
This truly a sad event. One thing I can't understand. The article says--
Lyons said he considered first-degree murder charges but opted for the lesser counts, saying he didn???‚¬?„?t believe the four men had the intent to cause a catastrophic act.

I don't get why 1st degree murder was ever a consideration. It requires premeditation and intent to kill. Did Lyons actually think these kids were planning to kill Danny intentionally? I am glad he came to his senses and did not pursue murder charges. Even the charge of arson requires the state prove the fire was set intentionally. I hope the severity of these charges were made so that some kind of plea deal could be worked out.
 
Da Coach said:
This truly a sad event. One thing I can't understand. The article says--
Lyons said he considered first-degree murder charges but opted for the lesser counts, saying he didn???‚¬?„?t believe the four men had the intent to cause a catastrophic act.

I don't get why 1st degree murder was ever a consideration. It requires premeditation and intent to kill. Did Lyons actually think these kids were planning to kill Danny intentionally? I am glad he came to his senses and did not pursue murder charges. Even the charge of arson requires the state prove the fire was set intentionally. I hope the severity of these charges were made so that some kind of plea deal could be worked out.
Click to expand...


If this was my kid (Dahlquist) I'd be mad as Hell! :evil:
 
I am shocked that the State's Attorney would pursue such a harsh charge. I imagine these kids are already sickened with the death of their friend and teammate.

I could understand a manslaughter charge, but not aggravated arson. And certainly no first degree murder! Clearly they did not intend to start a fire or cause physical harm.

I hate to admit it, but when I was in school I witnessed plenty of pranks that could have gone horribly awry...including bottle rockets under the door. Was it stupid...extremely! But was it malicious and worthy of jail time...I don't think so.

What a sad, sad series of events.
 
I know the sporting rivalry that is Bradley/ISU leads us to say some very mean spirited things about our respective schools, but this is truly a sad day for Bradley Soccer, and the Peoria community. On behalf of at least one ISU fan, my family's prayers go out to the Dahlquist family, the Bradley University community and all those close to this young man.

There will be plenty of time for the legal system to handle the particulars of this case, but at this time this young man's family and his teammates deserve support and privacy to sort through these matters.
 
A very sad day for Bradley and the athletic department. The Dahlquist family have been tremendous to university. It's embarrasing as well, that student-athletes would act like this. Even if they did what others have done before, they are still responsible for the consequences - just like any other person who isn't a BU student athlete.

I don't see jail time as too harsh, given the death. (Aside, Arson is using fire/explosive to knowingly damage property and, given the nature of putting roman candles under a door in a closed room, its not hard to argue knowledge. That a death occurred turns it into aggravated arson.) I suspect the alleged lying to investigators didn't help them in the charging decision either.
 
It is indeed sad, and my own kids have done silly, stupid things, although they have been willing when caught to accept responsibility and face the punishment.
Let's see how this plays out.
 
This is clearly a tragedy, plain and simple. I do not believe the kids actions were done with malice at all. Have heard that this was the final in a series of such pranks between these roommates on one another. The end goal being one of them ends up running out of their room in their underwear fleeing the fireworks.

These boys (& I mean just that, they are boys), will carry this with them for the rest of their lives, no matter what the legal system determines to do to them. I'm with the DaCoach and hope that in this instance the legal system can find some way to plea bargain this matter out.

I have to say that my heart breaks for the Dahlquist family having witnessed the effects of an untimely death such as this first hand. I also feel for the families of the boys who were perpetrating the prank and the gravity to which one seemingly innocent act will adversely effect their lives and futures.
 
romar said:
This is clearly a tragedy, plain and simple. I do not believe the kids actions were done with malice at all. Have heard that this was the final in a series of such pranks between these roommates on one another. The end goal being one of them ends up running out of their room in their underwear fleeing the fireworks.

These boys (& I mean just that, they are boys), will carry this with them for the rest of their lives, no matter what the legal system determines to do to them. I'm with the DaCoach and hope that in this instance the legal system can find some way to plea bargain this matter out.

I have to say that my heart breaks for the Dahlquist family having witnessed the effects of an untimely death such as this first hand. I also feel for the families of the boys who were perpetrating the prank and the gravity to which one seemingly innocent act will adversely effect their lives and futures.
Click to expand...


I honestly believe that the outcome for these "boys" will be decided by how the Dahlquist Family reacts -- with malice or with forgiveness?

I was personally involved in a situation over 20 years at BU where a close friend died over the summer on campus after drinking and dying in an unwitnessed accident (on campus at a fraternity house). The parents chose to forgive and actually helped the fraternity members through their grief -- no charges were ever brought.

I believe that if the Dahlquists take this same stance and choose to get actively involved with the DA that the charges will be light. But I agree with an earlier poster that these kids will carry this scar for the rest of their lives :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top