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| A deadly hazing at a HBCU. |
Louisianah....
Caleb Wilson's tragic death at Southern University as a lot of people talking.
The Baton Rouge Police investigated the incident and has arrested three men for manslaughter. The suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The chapter of Omega Psi Phi was immediately suspended.
“Caleb Wilson died as a direct result of a hazing incident where he was punched in the chest multiple times while pledging to Omega Psi Phi fraternity,” Baton Rouge Police Department Chief Thomas Morse Jr. told reporters.
Fraternity member Caleb McCray, 23, was arrested Thursday evening and faces charges of manslaughter and felony criminal hazing in the death of Wilson, a mechanical engineering junior at the school who died in late February.
Wilson and eight others pledging the fraternity were punched by McCray and at least two other individuals wearing boxing gloves, according to a police arrest warrant affidavit reviewed by The Associated Press.
After McCray punched Wilson four times in the chest, Wilson “collapsed to the floor, becoming unresponsive,” the affidavit states. “Wilson appeared to suffer a seizure and lose control of his bodily function.” No signs of trauma were found on Wilson’s body except for a “small bruise” on the right side of his chest.
The East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s Office was awaiting the results of additional testing but didn’t know when those would be complete, Chief of Investigations Shane Tindall said.
McCray had no intention to “cause death or great bodily harm” to Wilson, the police affidavit states.
McCray’s attorney, Phillip Robinson, said his client deserved due process.
“I maintain my client’s innocence and urge the public to withhold rushing to judgment until all the evidence is heard,” Robinson said in an emailed statement.
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| Three men face manslaughter. They also were kicked out of the school and banned from their fraternity. |
McCray and his family declined to comment, Robinson added.
Wilson was initially brought to a hospital by a group of men who falsely said that he had “collapsed while playing basketball at a park” but in fact had suffered injuries at a flooring company warehouse, Morse said.
The group left before police arrived at the hospital and no one contacted 911 at any point, Morse added. They changed Wilson’s clothing before bringing him to the hospital, the affidavit states.
In Louisiana, hazing can be a felony under the Max Gruver Act, which passed in 2018 and was named after a Louisiana State University student who died of alcohol poisoning after hazing at the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house.
Under the act, if a person being hazed dies or is seriously injured, violators face up to a $10,000 fine and five years in prison. Organizations, representatives and officers of an organization, and educational institutions can also face penalties.
Omega Psi Phi could face civil penalties under the act, East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore said.
The fraternity’s campus chapter has been ordered to “cease all activities” and students involved in Wilson’s death could face expulsion, Southern University President Dennis Shields told reporters.
Kyle Thurman, 25, and Isaiah Smith, 28, have been arrested and face charges of felony criminal hazing for their role in the death of Caleb Wilson, a mechanical engineering junior at the school who died in late February.
Smith was seen on surveillance video removing Wilson from his vehicle and bringing him to a hospital, according to a police arrest warrant affidavit reviewed by The Associated Press.
Wilson died as a “direct result” of the hazing, Morse Jr. said.
Smith held the title “Dean of Pledges” and was in charge of the ritual during the hazing, the affidavit states. He turned himself in on Tuesday, police say.
Smith’s lawyer, Franz Borghardt, said it is important to note that Smith is not accused of making physical contact with Wilson and that no one was aware of any underlying medical conditions he may have had.
“This was a freak accident; we’re not talking about force-feeding alcohol,” Borghardt said. “To be sure, everyone in that fraternity cares about Caleb. Our hearts go out to the Wilson family.”
Both Smith and Thurman participated in punching some of the nine pledges, but they are not described as hitting Wilson, according to police arrest warrant affidavits.
Smith’s father, Todd Smith, runs a flooring company where the hazing incident occurred, Borghardt said.
Todd Smith did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Thurman could not be reached for comment, and police and court officials were not able to provide information for his legal representation.
McCray’s lawyer, Phillip Robinson, said he is innocent and urged the public to withhold judgment.
In Louisiana, hazing can be a felony under the Max Gruver Act, which passed in 2018 and was named after a Louisiana State University student who died of alcohol poisoning after hazing at the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house.
Under the act, if a person being hazed dies or is seriously injured, violators face up to a $10,000 fine and five years in prison. Organizations, representatives and officers of an organization, and educational institutions can also face penalties.
The fraternity Wilson was pledging, Omega Psi Phi, could face civil penalties under the act. A fraternity spokesperson said it is cooperating with authorities.
The fraternity’s campus chapter has been ordered to cease activities and Greek life organizations have been barred from taking on new members for the remainder of the academic year, Southern University President Dennis Shields told reporters last week.
Hundreds of people turned out in early March for a vigil in honor of Wilson, a passionate trumpet player in the university’s famed band.
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