BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Law enforcement and university officials have released details about the hazing death of Caleb Wilson, a 20-year-old Southern University student and member of the Human Jukebox marching band.
Wilson, a junior studying mechanical engineering, died after what police say was a fraternity pledging ritual where pledges were punched in the chest with boxing gloves.
Police provide a timeline of events
According to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by Louisiana First News, Wilson was initially reported to have collapsed while playing basketball at North Sherwood Forest Community Park before being dropped off at Baton Rouge General Medical Center by a group of men. However, Baton Rouge police later determined that this was not accurate and that the incident actually took place at a warehouse on Woodcrest Drive.
The affidavit states that on the night of Feb. 26, Wilson and eight other pledges for Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. gathered at the warehouse, where they changed into gray sweatsuits. Witnesses told police that pledges were lined up and punched in the chest four times with black boxing gloves by at least three individuals.
Wilson was in the second group of pledges to be struck. The affidavit states that 23-year-old Caleb McCray punched Wilson four times in the chest, causing him to collapse and become unresponsive. He also lost control of his bodily functions.
Despite clear signs of distress, no one at the warehouse called 911 or sought medical assistance. Instead, pledges moved Wilson to another room while fraternity leaders attempted to help him. He was later placed in a vehicle and taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
During a search of the warehouse, police recovered a pair of black boxing gloves, according to the affidavit.
Student arrested, more arrests expected
McCray turned himself in Thursday and was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on charges of manslaughter and criminal hazing.
Baton Rouge Police Chief Thomas Morse Jr. said arrest warrants are being drawn up for at least two additional suspects.
East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore said approximately 15 to 20 people were present at the warehouse during the pledging event, including both fraternity members and pledges.
Southern University responds, membership intake paused
Southern University System President Dennis Shields announced that the university is pausing membership intake for all campus organizations—including fraternities, sororities, and student clubs—as a hazing investigation and the student judiciary process moves forward. The university also issued a cease and desist order to the Omega Psi Phi fraternity on campus, prohibiting all chapter activities pending the outcome of investigations.
In a statement posted to Facebook Friday afternoon, Chancellor John K. Pierre said the university is committed to fostering a safe learning environment and is taking the situation seriously. He also reiterated that the university is actively cooperating with law enforcement.
“We want to follow those rules, regulations, due process. They have every right to that. So yes, expulsion is one of the things that could happen,” Shields said at a press conference earlier in the day.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional arrests are expected.