An investigation is underway into the mysterious loss of life of mechanical engineering pupil Caleb Wilson, a junior at Southern College, who reportedly collapsed whereas taking part in a ritual together with his fraternity, Omega Psi Phi, at an off-campus park in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
New Orleans station WVUE reported that Wilson fell throughout an train the place college students had been compelled to face in line. It cited an unnamed supply it described as “acquainted with the case.”
What brought on Wilson to break down continues to be unknown. Outcomes from Wilson’s post-mortem are pending.
He was unresponsive when a gaggle of associates took him to Baton Rouge Common Hospital early Thursday morning. Docs pronounced Wilson useless and referred to as the Baton Rouge Police at 3:15 a.m., prompting a loss of life investigation.
In a press release, Southern College and A&M School mentioned it was conscious of “an off-campus incident which will have resulted within the loss of life of pupil Caleb Wilson, a junior from New Orleans majoring in mechanical engineering. The campus group extends condolences to his household, classmates and family members.”
“Southern is cooperating totally with the Baton Rouge Police Division, which is in command of the investigation,” the assertion continues. “No additional info is offered right now.”
Wilson was a member of Human Jukebox, the college’s marching band. He made his debut on trumpet in November 2023 on the fiftieth anniversary of the Bayou Traditional.
Wilson’s father, Corey Wilson, is a part-time deputy with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Workplace. He retired final 12 months as a sergeant after working full-time for 35 years.
One reporter overlaying Wilson’s loss of life positioned the onus on Southern College, which she mentioned dodged accountability when her father almost misplaced his life in a hazing incident on the Louisiana HBCU.
“Whereas he’s alive, the brutal hazing left him paralyzed and blind. He’s not paralyzed, however he’s nonetheless blind & has fought tirelessly for many years to regain his sight,” wrote Legislation & Crime reporter Kennedi Walker in a submit on X. “My household is sickened that, a long time later, Southern College has allowed this to occur once more. I pray that, in contrast to my household, the sufferer’s household will get the justice they deserve. Southern was by no means held accountable, nor had been these accountable for what occurred to my dad. It’s past disgusting.”
Lengthy recognized as an issue, hazing stays a preferred ritual on school campuses. The results are typically lethal, with no less than 50 deaths blamed on hazing since 2020, and the numbers are rising at an alarming fee.
Commenters on-line expressed frustration that the follow continues.
“Hazing is meant to be unlawful! Outlaw fraternities and sororities,” wrote one reader on Fb.
One commenter on X mentioned Wilson’s life may’ve been saved had somebody stepped up.
“Nobody stopped it,” he wrote. “Nobody stepped in. Caleb Wilson, 20, collapsed in the course of a fraternity ritual, and as a substitute of dialing 911, they drove him to a hospital, unresponsive. His father, a high-ranking officer, now faces the nightmare of burying his son. This could by no means have occurred.”
One unbiased researcher mentioned the variety of hazing deaths since 2000 is definitely 105, in line with the Greatest Schools report. And the numbers preserve getting worse, with 40 occurring between 2007 and 2017. Practically 80 p.c of the deaths are tied to extreme alcohol consumption and fraternities.
