Investigation of LSU’s Damien Shanklin
LSU defensive end Damien Shanklin is currently facing an investigation by the East Baton Rouge District Attorney’s Office along with campus police. This follows allegations made by a student that he raped her in a dormitory on campus back in 2025.
Shanklin, who is 20 years old, is under scrutiny from District Attorney Hillar Moore III and the LSU Police Department regarding claims that he assaulted a female student during the early hours of October 18, 2025. According to reports from the Los Angeles Times, the university’s Title IX office found Shanklin accountable for “forcible rape.” However, after he appealed the decision, his suspension was reduced to probation, allowing him to remain on campus.
In a recent news release, Moore indicated that he had requested all relevant documents—including reports and interviews—from various agencies, including LSU and the Baton Rouge Police Department.
The student who made the allegations, Kendall Danielle Francis, age 19, shared her story publicly through a TikTok video on September 14, revealing that she felt compelled to file a formal police report due to Shanklin’s successful appeal against his campus ban, which allowed him back to school.
Francis expressed her feelings about the situation, stating, “Now I am just trying to speak on my story, because LSU does really protect their athletes, especially their football players.”
In July, LSU’s Office of Civil Rights and Title IX held Shanklin responsible for forcible rape and imposed a two-semester suspension. However, after an appeal heard by administrative law judge Janet Waguespack, this punishment was changed to probation for four semesters, as Waguespack deemed the original sanction “exceedingly harsh.”
Waguespack also noted that while the incident was non-consensual, it did not show a deliberate disregard for the complainant’s dignity, characterizing it instead as an “error in judgment.”
Reports from several sources, including ESPN, mention that prior to the alleged assault, consensual activity occurred between Shanklin and Francis. It is claimed that he continued for about 20 seconds after she asked him to stop. According to her, after having a rape kit done, he sent her $1,000, which she referred to as “hush money” in her video.
Shanklin’s attorneys, Grant L. Willis and Morgan H. Johnson, released a statement asserting his innocence and urging the public to refrain from forming premature judgments.
They stated, “We simply ask that the court of public opinion cease to make any assumptions about any person involved until more information is publicly available.”
Furthermore, LSU communicated to USA Today that they “strictly followed” their Title IX policies and procedures throughout the situation.
The ongoing investigation occurs in the context of a July Title IX sex-discrimination lawsuit involving an Ohio Dominican University graduate assistant, who alleged that a male player assaulted her, with officials reportedly advising her to keep it internal. Recently, the Department of Education also moved to eliminate the Title IX regulations implemented by the Biden administration, reverting to those established during Donald Trump’s presidency.
It’s worth noting that Shanklin, a redshirt freshman hailing from Indianapolis, has not yet faced any criminal charges. The case has stirred discontent online, particularly among LSU community members who have criticized how the university has managed the Title IX findings.
