The tragic death of Joshua Allen has been officially classified as a suicide, according to recent findings.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office in Texas has concluded that the former “So You Think You Can Dance” champion, who was fatally struck by a train last year, intentionally ended his own life, as reported by TMZ.
Allen, who was 36 at the time, succumbed to injuries described as “blunt force trauma,” based on documents reviewed by the media outlet.
Following his passing, those close to Allen have shared memories that highlight his core values and beliefs.
“In one of his final conversations, he emphasized the importance of keeping faith central, advising to be true to oneself before being sincere with others,” a source revealed to TMZ.
The accomplished dancer from Fort Worth, Texas, passed away at a hospital near his residence on September 30, as confirmed earlier by a family member to TMZ.
Joshua Allen’s death has officially been ruled as suicide, according to records obtained by TMZ
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office in Texas determined that the So You Think You Can Dance winner, who was struck and killed by a train last year, deliberately took his own life
The Fort Worth Police Department told the publication at the time that they had received a call for a person who was struck by a train and an investigation was launched.
That same family member asked fans for ‘privacy and prayers’ as they remembered the dancer as a man of integrity and a person who always wanted to bring family together.
Emmanuel Hurd, a friend of the late dancer, told the publication that he was ‘a very honest, real person.’
Hurd continued to TMZ: ‘He didn’t always do things the way that everybody thought he should, but that’s why he was a winner.’
He is best known for winning the reality dancing competition show in 2008.
Allen actually won over Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss who was runner up on the show and they became good friends.
Boss – who went on to become DJ and executive producer of The Ellen DeGeneres Show – died by suicide at age 40 in December 2022.
Of their relationship at the time Allen commented: ‘We were really happy for each other. We were two of the closest people there.’
Allen died of ‘blunt force injuries,’ according to records obtained by the outlet
The professional dancer from Fort Worth, Texas – pictured performing on So You Think You Can Dance in 2008 – died at a hospital near his home on September 30
Allen actually won over Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss who was runner up on the show and they became good friends
He found success on the big screen after his SYTYCD win as a featured dancer in the 2010 flick Step Up 3D in addition to the Footloose remake in 2011 (pictured on Instagram)
Allen originally auditioned for SYTYCD in Dallas, Texas along with his friend and fellow contestant, Comfort Fedoke.
He ultimately was crowned on August 7, 2008 and earned the cash prize of $250,000.
After he earned the victory, he revealed that he actually had no technical dance training as a kid but did work on a few things before his audition.
Allen told Entertainment Weekly: ‘I took a few modern dance classes, ballet classes, because I felt that to be a better dancer I would have to take different classes, and expand my horizons in the art of dance.
‘I didn’t want to audition for the show not knowing anything.’
After nailing his audition, there were months before he moved to Las Vegas ahead of the live shows so he strategically spent that time taking ‘as many classes as I could’ which certainly paid off.
‘I really wasn’t that technically trained. I would just try to take classes in the summer, and when it was school time I would take class, run track, play football,’ he said.
‘I would always just train in the summer. So it was never hard training.’
Allen’s final Instagram post was a tribute post to The Cosby Show star Malcolm Jamal Warner who died by accidental drowning in July at the age of 54
He did find success on the big screen after his SYTYCD win as he was a featured dancer in 2010 flick Step Up 3D in addition to the Footloose remake in 2011.
He also took part as a dancer and choreographer in Oxygen’s Dance Your Ass Off back in 2010 and even had acting roles on television shows Community and American Horror Story.
Allen made headlines again in 2016 for a domestic violence arrest involving an ex-girlfriend. He was ultimately sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest to the charges and received five years probation in addition to one year of domestic violence counseling, according to Deadline.
Allen’s final Instagram post was a tribute post to The Cosby Show star Malcolm Jamal Warner who passed away in July at the age of 54.
If you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts, please contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline ay 988.
