Tom Lamas and Past Incident at Loyola University

Tom Lamas, who recently took over as anchor for NBC “Nightly News,” was among nearly 12 fraternity brothers at Loyola University arrested in 2001 after a violent break-in at a student residence. Lamas, however, was not charged in this incident.

An NBC spokesperson mentioned, “As an undergraduate at Loyola University almost 25 years ago, Tom was one of 11 students involved in a fight and another fraternity break-in. Most of those students, including Tom, were not connected to the incident.” Following thorough investigations by the university and local authorities, those not involved were cleared of any wrongdoing.

Despite this, some victims and their supporters expressed dissatisfaction, feeling that accountability was lacking from the fraternity’s side. A former president of Sigma Phi Epsilon failed to condemn the invasion, referring to it merely as a “university competition.”

As one individual close to the victims reflected, “What a terrible thing happened. There wasn’t a single person saying, ‘Hey, that must have been awful for you.'” The break-in not only resulted in physical damage but also left emotional scars on the victims, compounded by the perceived lack of accountability. It’s worth noting that one of those arrested now anchors a prominent evening newscast.

The chaotic events unfolded on February 22, 2001, when a group of Sigma Phi Epsilon members stormed a three-story house belonging to the Be Food Fraternity, located near Loyola’s campus. They broke through doors and windows, causing extensive damage—four windows were shattered, a large table split, and chairs were destroyed.

Inside the house, a girlfriend was studying for a medical exam when the intruders assaulted her boyfriend, inflicting injuries that left him with two black eyes. His girlfriend was also pushed to the ground during the attack.

The estimated damages amounted to $4,000. Initially, New Orleans police dismissed the incident as mere rowdiness, but after seeing the destruction, they realized it resembled a serious felony. Investigators later classified it as a “planned, systematic… felony definition of robbery.”

Although 11 Sigma Phi Epsilon members were arrested, the case essentially fell apart, with prosecutors dropping most charges within two months due to a lack of evidence. The incident was one of the first dropped, while others faced reduced charges or settled civil claims.

Two of Lamas’s fraternity brothers, Eric Rust and Timothy Fungie, confirmed Lamas was present at the scene but didn’t participate in the break-in. “He showed up, but he didn’t go inside,” one stated.

Handwritten police notes from the time did mention someone named “Tommy” as being involved, and while only Lamas matched that name, the victim later said that the trauma clouded her memory of the event. Years on, simple things like a doorbell still trigger panic for her.

This incident marked the conclusion of ongoing conflicts between the two fraternities, both sides blaming the other for the fight that escalated into the raid. In the aftermath, Lamas was cleared by Loyola’s internal disciplinary proceedings, and both fraternities faced penalties, including probation.

Reflecting on the outcome, Lamas expressed contentment, saying, “We are very pleased with the outcome.” He has since praised Loyola as a premier communication school, even as social media clips circulated recently.

In response to queries about the 2001 incident, NBC reiterated that Lamas had been “indiscriminately arrested” and was never accused of wrongdoing. The network emphasized that both university and local reviews found no misconduct.

Yet, graduates connected to the victims have labeled this narrative as a revisionist view of the incident. “I don’t recall anyone expressing regret – at least not publicly,” commented one graduate, indicating that remorse has not been openly expressed.

For Lamas, this past event lingers as a blemish on a largely successful career. Raised by Cuban immigrants in Miami, he transitioned from local news to national prominence, recently becoming the first Latinx anchor to host a weekday English-language newscast. Reflecting on his journey, he remarked, “My parents came here because there was nothing… and now I’m going to deliver the news every night. That’s the American dream.”

This news outlet is currently seeking comments from NBC and Lamas.