A Philadelphia college was rattled Wednesday by the suicide of a math professor who leapt to his death as his wife and horrified class looked on. Continue reading after the jump. 

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Adjunct professor Rudolf Alexandrov was about to start his class at Chestnut Hill College when he suddenly became agitated and walked out.

Mr Alexandrov, 71, then returned to the classroom in St Joseph’s Hall and shouted before running to a second-floor ledge in the hall’s rotunda. 

Rudolf Alexandrov fell 20 to 30 feet to his death after diving off a second floor ledge in St Joseph’s Hall.

A police source said two witnesses tried to talk Mr Alexandrov out of jumping, but ‘unfortunately, he followed through‘, falling about 20 to 30 feet to his death.

A witness told the Philadelphia Inquirer: ‘It was the most horrifying thing ever. I heard bloodcurdling screams.’

Mr Alexandrov’s wife Olga, 56, who also works at the college as an adjunct professor, witnessed the fall – as well as his students.

On Friday, the college disputed the reports of who saw the incident.

Spokeswoman Kathleen M. Spigelmyer said: ‘In no way did any member of his class witness this nor did his wife.’

To the best of our knowledge, there were only four witnesses at the second-floor level.’

Lt Robert Zaffino of Northwest Detectives said the professor ‘had a history of depression.’

He said Mr Alexandrov ‘had been having suicidal thoughts and mentioned harming himself in the past.’

Officers were called to the Mr Alexandrov’s home last week after he went missing, but he was found wandering the neighbourhood a short time later.

In a statement, the college expressed its sympathy.

‘We offer our prayers and condolences to all Alexandrov family members and friends at this time of great sorrow.’

Philadelphia police called it a suicide but did not immediately  release any other information.

The college cancelled classes for the day and provided counsellors to students, faculty and staff at the school, which was founded in 1924.