SAN DIEGO, CA- Four members of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity at San Diego State University have been arrested on felony charges after taking part in a performance at a party in February 2024 that involved a pledge being deliberately set on fire. Prosecutors revealed that the young man suffered severe third-degree burns to over 16% of his body.
The four members of the fraternity: Caden Cooper, 22; Lucas Cowling, 20; Christopher Serrano, 20; and Lars Larsen, 19 pleaded not guilty to recklessly causing a fire with great bodily injury, conspiracy to commit an act injurious to the public and violating the social host ordinance according to Fox News. The men could face over seven years in prison if convicted.
As reported by The Associated Press, the fateful skit was planned and executed by Cowling, Serrano, and Larsen and involved Serrano setting Larsen on fire prosecutors said. Larsen would go on to spend several weeks hospitalized for third-degree burns primarily to his legs.
San Diego prosecutors added that Larsen, Cooper, and Cowling allegedly lied to police investigating the matter deleted video evidence posted to social media, and ordered other fraternity members to do likewise and reveal nothing about the incident. Cooper was reportedly President of the fraternity at the time of the incident. Prosecutors told the court that Larsen and Serrano were underage and observed consuming alcohol by Cowling before the incident.
A spokesman from SDSU told Nexstar Media, that an anonymous report informed them about the incident which triggered an investigation by the SDSU Police Department. The spokesman declined to comment on the ongoing case. Still, he said the university “prioritizes the health and safety of our campus community and has high expectations for how all members of the university community, including students, behave in the interest of individual and community safety and wellbeing.”
According to a press release from San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan, “All the defendants were released on their own recognizance but with specific conditions imposed by the court, including not to participate in any fraternity parties, not to participate in any recruitment events for the fraternity, and to obey all laws, including those related to alcohol consumption. The court set a readiness hearing for March 18, 2025 and a preliminary hearing date of April 16, 2025.”
The four members of the fraternity: Caden Cooper, 22; Lucas Cowling, 20; Christopher Serrano, 20; and Lars Larsen, 19 pleaded not guilty to recklessly causing a fire with great bodily injury, conspiracy to commit an act injurious to the public and violating the social host ordinance according to Fox News. The men could face over seven years in prison if convicted.
As reported by The Associated Press, the fateful skit was planned and executed by Cowling, Serrano, and Larsen and involved Serrano setting Larsen on fire prosecutors said. Larsen would go on to spend several weeks hospitalized for third-degree burns primarily to his legs.
San Diego prosecutors added that Larsen, Cooper, and Cowling allegedly lied to police investigating the matter deleted video evidence posted to social media, and ordered other fraternity members to do likewise and reveal nothing about the incident. Cooper was reportedly President of the fraternity at the time of the incident. Prosecutors told the court that Larsen and Serrano were underage and observed consuming alcohol by Cowling before the incident.
A spokesman from SDSU told Nexstar Media, that an anonymous report informed them about the incident which triggered an investigation by the SDSU Police Department. The spokesman declined to comment on the ongoing case. Still, he said the university “prioritizes the health and safety of our campus community and has high expectations for how all members of the university community, including students, behave in the interest of individual and community safety and wellbeing.”
DA Files Charges Against SDSU Fraternity Members After One Student is Burned https://t.co/ZLYE0U9Lyz pic.twitter.com/UCgSbf5nff
— SD District Attorney (@SDDistAtty) January 7, 2025
According to a press release from San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan, “All the defendants were released on their own recognizance but with specific conditions imposed by the court, including not to participate in any fraternity parties, not to participate in any recruitment events for the fraternity, and to obey all laws, including those related to alcohol consumption. The court set a readiness hearing for March 18, 2025 and a preliminary hearing date of April 16, 2025.”
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