Colin Kaepernick is stepping in to cover the costs of a second, independent autopsy for De'Martravion "Trey" Reed -- the black student found hanging from a tree on a college campus ... this after officials announced this week his death was ruled a suicide.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the Reed family, released a statement on Friday ... revealing Kap's Know Your Rights Camp Autopsy Initiative will fund a separate autopsy as the family challenges the Mississippi State Medical Examiner's Office's initial ruling.

Reed's body was found hanging from a tree on the Delta State University campus on Monday ... and his loved ones have raised questions surrounding the details being provided.

"Trey’s death evoked the collective memory of a community that has suffered a historic wound over many, many years and many, many deaths," Crump said.

READ THE FULL STORY AT TMZ