A FIRST AMENDMENT PUBLICATION Vol. 144, Issue 3
@roundupnews
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Performing Arts Center reopens following death investigation By Daisy Aguinada Editor-in-Chief
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Woodland Hills resident and U.S. Army and Air Force veteran was found dead near the Performing Arts Building on campus on Monday, March 9. He was later identified by the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner as Morgan Dunne, 43. According to the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s Office and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, investigators determined that no foul play was involved and that the campus is safe. Dunne served in the military as a combat medic, according to his mother Mi Dunne. He is remembered by his mother as a compassionate person who dedicated much of his life to helping others. “He had a heart for helping people,” she said. “If someone needed help, he would stop and help them.” She described her son as someone who often stepped in when others were struggling, including helping people find housing or connect with job opportunities. His mother also said Dunne lived with post-traumatic stress disorder following his military service. Pierce College officials said the entrance to Parking Lot 8 and the Performing Arts area remained closed Monday while authorities responded to the scene. Theater, music and art classes scheduled in the area were canceled for the day. Pierce College President Ara Aguiar said the incident prompted the closure of the Performing Arts Building area
while authorities investigated. “The emergency in the PAB area resulted in canceling all of the classes in PAB, music and art,” Aguiar said. “At no time was anyone on the campus at risk or at threat. There was no threat to the campus, but it triggered an investigation by the Sheriff’s Office.” An email from the president’s office on Tuesday afternoon confirmed that Dunne was not a student or employee of the college. The Performing Arts department reopened Tuesday morning, and classes in the
can come to the Health Center without an appointment.” Tanashian also said students have access to additional virtual mental health support through the college’s TimelyCare service. Veteran students can access the office in the Library Learning Resource Building, where staff help coordinate Veterans Affairs education benefits and connect students with academic counseling and other campus resources. Students and community members seeking support can contact the Pierce College
Student Health Center for mental health resources. The national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is also available by calling or texting 988, which provides free, confidential support 24 hours a day.
For students and faculty seeking additional support, campus resources can be found on Page 4.
Calvin Henry / Roundup News A member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department lifts up a piece of yellow crime scene tape to let in a medical examiner van following the death of Morgan Dunne near the Performing Arts Building at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Monday, March 9, 2026.
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area resumed. Pierce Student Health Center Director Houry Tanashian said counseling services are available for students who may be emotionally impacted by the incident. “If you have any students who are in emotional distress or are impacted by this incident, please give them the Health Center phone number and let them come over,” Tanashian said. “We have two psychologists who will speak to them, and we can provide crisis intervention. Anyone who needs to be walked in
Javier Ramirez / Roundup News
Chabad Club Purim
Swim team is back. Nick Crabtree / Roundup News
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