Five fraternity members charged in death of Baruch College freshman
Nearly two years after a college student died during a fraternity hazing ritual in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains, murder charges have been filed against five people.
Members of New York City's Baruch College Pi Delta Psi fraternity brutally assaulted Chun "Michael" Deng during an initiation rite in September 2013 and delayed taking him to the hospital, contributing to his death, police said.
Officials said he was blindfolded, saddled with a 30-pound backpack full of sand, and repeatedly tackled while he tried to walk toward a target across a frozen field. Mr. Deng eventually complained that his head hurt then fell unconscious.
Pi Delta Psi fraternity members did not call 911 after Deng passed out, and聽allegedly waited an hour before bringing him to a hospital, police say.聽They did, however,聽find time to change Deng's clothes, Google聽his symptoms, and contact Andy Meng, the fraternity's national president to seek advice, Police Chief Chris Wagner said at a news conference.
"At this point, members began to hide paraphernalia and basically put the fraternity's well-being over that of Michael Deng's," Chief Wagner said.
He could not be revived and he died the next morning.聽According to an autopsy report, Deng was subjected to repeated blunt force trauma to his head, torso, and thighs.
鈥淭oo many families have been devastated as a result of fraternity hazing, with at least one student dying every year from hazing since 1970,鈥� Douglas Fierberg, an attorney representing Deng's family, said in a statement.
鈥淔raternities and their members must be held accountable, and this step by authorities is an important one.鈥�
A Monroe County grand jury recommended third-degree murder charges for the first five members. Thirty-two other fraternity members, including Mr. Meng, will also be charged with assault hazing and criminal conspiracy.
"We want to hold not only the individuals involved, but if there's an organization that sanctioned it, whether officially or unofficially, we're going to hold them accountable as well," Wagner said at a news conference聽Tuesday.
Baruch College banned the fraternity and the national fraternity revoked its affiliation with the local chapter.聽
This report includes material from the Associated Press and Reuters.
