“Regarding the preliminary investigation, the victim appears to have entered the sea and was apparently swept away by a current,” the July 21 statement said. “The man was rescued by bystanders and taken to shore, where he received treatment from the Costa Rican Red Cross. However, he was declared lifeless at the scene.”
Costa Rican National Police later confirmed to ABC News that Warner’s cause of death was asphyxia, a condition where the body is deprived of oxygen that can be caused by drowning.
After the news of his death, many stars celebrated the life of Warner with touching tributes, including his Reed Between the Lines costar Tracee Ellis Ross.
“I love you, Malcolm,” the Black-ish star wrote in a July 21 Instagram post. “First I met you as Theo with the rest of the world then you were my first TV husband. My heart is so so sad.”
She continued, “What an actor and friend you were: warm, gentle, present, kind, thoughtful, deep, funny, elegant. You made the world a brighter place. Sending so much love to your family. I’m so sorry for this unimaginable loss.”
Read on for a look back at Warner’s life through pictures.
