BATON ROUGE, LA - Police in Baton Rouge, announced two arrests in connection with a high-profile investigation into the death of a Southern University student 20-year-old Caleb Wilson in February. A total of three suspects in the alleged off-campus fraternity hazing have been arrested so far.
The Department announced Tuesday that Kyle Thurman, 25, and Isaiah Smith, 28, according to CBS News. Both were reportedly charged with criminal hazing which is a felony offense in Louisiana authorities said. Officers arrested Thurman in the nearby community of Port Allen on Monday and Smith turned himself in to Baton Rouge police the following day.
In a statement posted to social media, the department said that Thurman was arrested by the BRPD’s VCAT (Violent Crimes Apprehension Team) and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and has been extradited to Baton Rouge where he is being held at East Baton Rouge Parish along with Smith.
Authorities told the press that further arrests were expected after suspect Caleb McCray, 23, turned himself in Friday. McCray is accused of punching Wilson in the chest several times during an alleged hazing ritual of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. He faces charges of criminal hazing and manslaughter.
During the alleged ritual that resulted in Wilson’s death, the victim and eight other pledges were brought to a warehouse in Baton Rouge where they donned gray sweatsuits, and McCray, Thurman, and Smith, wearing boxing gloves were to punch the pledges four times.
According to Smith’s arrest warrant cited by CBS, "Thurman proceeded to punch the first half of the group, McCray punched the second half, with Smith punching at least one pledge.”
It was during this time that Wilson, who was reportedly in the second group of pledges, reportedly collapsed in a seizure and urinated himself. Baton Rouge Police Department Chief Thomas Morse Jr. told reporters in a Friday press conference that no attempt was made by anyone in attendance to call 911 or an ambulance for Wilson. The victim was later dropped off by a group of men at the Baton Rouge General Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. The vehicle that made the drop-off was registered to Smith police said.
Local outlet WAFB reported that McCray’s bond was set at $75,000 for the manslaughter charge and $25,000 for the hazing charge and he was released on bond Friday night.
The Department announced Tuesday that Kyle Thurman, 25, and Isaiah Smith, 28, according to CBS News. Both were reportedly charged with criminal hazing which is a felony offense in Louisiana authorities said. Officers arrested Thurman in the nearby community of Port Allen on Monday and Smith turned himself in to Baton Rouge police the following day.
In a statement posted to social media, the department said that Thurman was arrested by the BRPD’s VCAT (Violent Crimes Apprehension Team) and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and has been extradited to Baton Rouge where he is being held at East Baton Rouge Parish along with Smith.
Authorities told the press that further arrests were expected after suspect Caleb McCray, 23, turned himself in Friday. McCray is accused of punching Wilson in the chest several times during an alleged hazing ritual of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. He faces charges of criminal hazing and manslaughter.
During the alleged ritual that resulted in Wilson’s death, the victim and eight other pledges were brought to a warehouse in Baton Rouge where they donned gray sweatsuits, and McCray, Thurman, and Smith, wearing boxing gloves were to punch the pledges four times.
According to Smith’s arrest warrant cited by CBS, "Thurman proceeded to punch the first half of the group, McCray punched the second half, with Smith punching at least one pledge.”
It was during this time that Wilson, who was reportedly in the second group of pledges, reportedly collapsed in a seizure and urinated himself. Baton Rouge Police Department Chief Thomas Morse Jr. told reporters in a Friday press conference that no attempt was made by anyone in attendance to call 911 or an ambulance for Wilson. The victim was later dropped off by a group of men at the Baton Rouge General Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. The vehicle that made the drop-off was registered to Smith police said.
Local outlet WAFB reported that McCray’s bond was set at $75,000 for the manslaughter charge and $25,000 for the hazing charge and he was released on bond Friday night.
For corrections or revisions, click here.
The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
Comments