B.U. officials said Johnson and a group of friends were attempting to pull a prank at the time of his death. The exact nature of the prank is still unknown, but the Anti-Defamation League released a statement yesterday charging the group with trying to plant a flag with a swastika on top of the building, according to the Daily Free Press, Boston University's student newspaper.
The newspaper reported that B.U. officials are currently investigating the issue.
"Shortly before 4 a.m., [Johnson and a friend] decided to climb the fire escape using a rope with a hook to get to the top of the roof," said Laura Mikols, a public relations associate at B.U. "There were two other students who acted as lookouts."
The climb went awry when Johnson lost his grip on the rope and fell to the ground below, causing severe head trauma.
His friends called the police, who came and performed CPR on Johnson until the Boston paramedics arrived.
B.U. will not disclose the names of Johnson's companions and are still looking into possible repercussions. B.U.'s Office of the Dean of Students, the Boston police and the District Attorney's Office are currently working together to come up with an adequate course of action.