Still in shock about the sudden death of his roommate, Chris Phillips acknowledged that Evan Walters was known to paint graffiti.

"He did those things from time to time, but that's not all there was to him," Phillips said outside the apartment the two former art students shared on Perrysville Avenue on the North Side.

Walters, 24, was struck by a CSX freight train beneath the Birmingham Bridge on the South Side at 1:41 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Allegheny County Coroner.

"How he didn't see or hear the train coming, I don't know," said city homicide Sgt. Tim Westwood.

Police and paramedics found his remains near the tracks about 10 minutes later. They also said they found a backpack containing identification and several cans of spray paint, as well as fresh painting at the scene.

Police did not specify what "tag" -- an identifying mark often used by graffiti artists -- that he used, but those who knew him said he went by the tag "Angre."

The coroner's office said Walters, originally of Belle Vernon, died of blunt force trauma to his head, trunk and extremities. His death was ruled an accident, although toxicology reports are pending to determine whether he may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Walters had attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.

"He was still trying to figure out what he wanted to do in life," Phillips said.

Walters worked as a deliveryman for Fragile Paradise, a Liberty Avenue flower shop, and loved listening to music and drawing.

"When he didn't have anything to do, you could find him sitting with a pen and paper," Phillips said.

Neighbor Patrick King said Walters liked to ride his skateboard around the neighborhood and play with his dog.

"I've known him for three or four years, and this is unreal," he said. "It sounds like he made a bad decision. It surprises me."

King said the two would often watch fireworks from the roof of his house or just kick back with a few beers.

"He liked everybody. He was like a little brother," King said.

Michael Monack, the infamous graffiti artist known around the city as "Mook," said he had heard of Walters and his tag "Angre," but didn't know him personally.

"I had noticed that tag around Downtown, on the North Side and on the South Side recently," he said. "I think he mostly painted alone or with close friends."

Monack said the spot where Walters was killed is popular with younger kids, but is dangerous because of its proximity to the tracks and steep hillsides.

"There's a lot of trash and railroad ties underneath the weeds, and you can trip," he said.

The concrete pilings are scrawled with numerous markings and colors. Trash, broken glass and evidence of drug use litter the area.

"A lot of it is kids who go down there to drink or shoot up heroin," Monack said. "It's not a place where you can just sit and paint, because it's heavily patrolled."

Police said Walters' death might simply have been an accident.

"It appears at this time to be purely accidental," city police Cmdr. Maurita Bryant said. "Sometimes people go into areas in the shadow of darkness to do these types of activities, and it's very unsafe. It's a shame that this occurred, but hopefully it will lend some caution to others."

Phillips said if his roommate was painting graffiti, it was just bad judgment.

"If he did it, it was because he wanted to be good at something," Phillips said. "He didn't hurt anyone else."