COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Kosta Karageorge, the Ohio State walkon football player and wrestler who died at age 22, his body discovered Sunday, will be laid to rest Wednesday.

Tuesday night, Karageorge's family made its first statement since his death.

"The Karageorge Family would like to thank the friends, family, coaches, teammates, and even kind strangers who helped us in the search for Kosta.

"Kosta was a beloved son, brother, nephew, grandson, cousin, and friend. His untimely death has shocked and devastated all that knew him. As we await official findings and try to understand the circumstances surrounding Kosta's death, we ask that the media allow our family time to grieve privately."

The statement was released to the Northeast Ohio Media Group through Karageorge's older sister, Sophia, on behalf of the entire family, including their parents, George and Susan.

Karageorge's body was found Sunday a block from his Columbus apartment off the south edge of Ohio State's campus. The initial police determination was that Karageorge died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The coroner has determined that he did die of the gunshot but has not made a final ruling on whether it was self-inflicted. A time of death has also not been determined, Columbus Police Sgt. Rich Weiner said Tuesday.

Police did recover a handgun with Karageorge. Weiner also confirmed Tuesday that investigators have found his cell phone.

Roses rest of the motorcyle of Kosta Karageorge outside his Columbus apartment on Monday.

According to the police report, Karageorge sent a text message to his family early last Wednesday morning, around 1:30 a.m., complaining that the effects from past concussions were bothering him. His family has said he suffered multiple concussions during his athletic career.

Upset over something, according to his family, he left the apartment he shared with his roommates to go for a walk around 2 a.m. His cell phone pinged off a tower about 2.5 miles from his apartment about half an hour later. Police are still investigating where he may have gone that night.

Karageorge was remembered at a vigil on campus Sunday attended by several hundred Ohio State students as a loyal and passionate friend who wasn't afraid to speak his mind. His funeral will be held Wednesday morning at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Columbus.