Police in Baton Rouge, La., have announced an arrest in the hazing death of Southern University student and band member Caleb Wilson with more arrests expected.
Baton Rouge police detail how Caleb Wilson died
Investigators discovered Caleb McCray and two other men, while wearing boxing gloves, allegedly punched the Southern University fraternity pledge member repeatedly in the chest. The pledge, identified as Wilson, then collapsed, began convulsing from a seizure, and later died. McCray is in custody.
Police have now charged McCray, 23, a Wylie, Texas native, with felony criminal hazing and manslaughter for the fraternity hazing ritual at a warehouse in late February.
Southern University is in Baton Rouge, La., about five miles from Louisiana State University.
Police say more arrests are expected.
Investigators say McCray is but the first arrest in connection with the death of the 20-year-old engineering major following the off-campus fraternity hazing ritual.
According to Fox 4 News, Baton Rouge Police Chief TJ Morse said during a press conference that “detectives have interviewed over a dozen people and executed multiple search warrants to gather as much information as possible.”
All fraternity and sorority activities have been suspended
In the interim, until the investigation has concluded, all fraternity and sorority activities at Southern University have been suspended indefinitely.
Morse said the actions of the fellow frat members following Wilson’s collapse aroused suspicion. When the men dropped Wilson off at the hospital, they claimed that Wilson had collapsed while playing basketball. However, the men then fled the hospital before officers could arrive and interview them.
The frat members’ actions after Wilson’s collapse aroused suspicion
The police chief said the investigation quickly revealed that the original story of playing ball in the park was a fabrication.
“Caleb Wilson died as a direct result of a hazing incident where he was punched in the chest multiple times while pledging Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.”
Further probing revealed that Wilson and eight other pledges arrived at a warehouse and changed into gray sweatpants.
The pledges stood in a line “and were each punched four times with boxing gloves by at least three individuals.” Police say McCray, who graduated from Southern, was one of the fraternity members who participated in the hazing.
The police report obtained by Fox 4 reveals that Wilson “appeared to suffer a seizure and lose control of his bodily function.”
Also, “Wilson’s clothing was changed before he was dropped off at the hospital,” where he later succumbed to his injuries.
