Louisiana Student Dies from Repeated Chest Punches During Hazing
BATON ROUGE, LA
A mechanical engineering student at Southern University in Baton Rouge ended up dying from effects of a hazing ritual on February 27th.
Southern University Junior Caleb Wilson, a member of Southern University’s famous Human Jukebox marching band, died from injuries he received during a hazing ceremony where Wilson was repeatedly punched in the chest while pledging to the Omega Psi Phi fraternity on the Southern University campus.
During a news conference last Friday morning, Baton Rouge Police Chief Thomas Morse stated the original report was that Wilson collapsed while playing basketball at a Baton Rouge park on Sherwood Forest Blvd. But that report turned out to be false.
“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,” Morse said at the news conference.
Southern University President Dennis Shields said:
“The Baton Rouge campus chapter of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity has been ordered to cease all activities,” says Shields. “Every campus Greek organization has been informed that no additional membership intake can occur for a minimum (for) the remainder of the academic year.”
The Mayor-President of Baton Rouge, Sid Edwards released the following statement:
“We got to do better,” Mayor-President Edwards said at the news conference. “We feel like sometimes we take one step forward and two steps back. It’s a sad day to lose such a promising young life. And I encourage all the young people out there to make better decisions.”
One arrest has been made with more expected to follow, but McCray’s attorney doesn’t think there’s enough evidence to make a case.
“At this time, we are thoroughly reviewing all evidence and circumstances surrounding the case,” Robinson wrote in a statement. “We are committed to ensuring that all facts are properly examined and that due process is followed.”