The Flat Boys at Southern University, Louisiana, reportedly lied to police about the 20-year-old pledge and beloved marching band members collapsed and died during a violent off-campus hazing ceremony.
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Brothers first told Baton Rouge police that Junior Caleb Wilson suddenly collapsed during an early morning ceremony in a public park on February 21, but Wilson actually suffered a seizure after being punched in the chest at a local warehouse. A source with knowledge of the research told WFAB.
Wilson, the trumpeter for the university's famous human jukebox marching band, is one of nine pledges lined up at an unauthorized ritual, each forced to take a punch to the chest, a source told the outlet.
Wilson was hit and collapsed on the floor of the warehouse and began to have seizures.
He was rushed to Baton Rouge General Hospital, where he passed away at 3:15am.
It is said that fraternity members later secretly gathered together to create a story about Wilson's collapse at North Sherwood Forest Community Park. In fact, the participating students never stepped into the park that night, sources told Exit.
Hospital staff contacted Baton Rouge police about the death and then began an investigation.
A WFAB investigator said several people are responsible for Wilson's death, but the degree of negligence varies.
The cause of death was not determined immediately following the autopsy and further testing is ongoing.
In response to Wilson's death, Southern university officials implemented banned membership intakes for all fraternities, sororities and sororities.
“Hayes is a violation of university rules and regulations, Louisiana law and is not tolerated in any way,” Southern University said in a letter to the school community Tuesday.
“We support punishment to the fullest extent of the law for those committing violent acts that prevent students from entering safely and successfully in the South,” the school added.
