Photo: Southern University Human Jukebox
Update 3/11 1:46 p.m. ET: The third suspect, Isaiah Smith, surrendered to authorities on Tuesday (March 11) at around 11 a.m.
A second suspect has been apprehended in the alleged hazing death of Southern University student Caleb Wilson, who collapsed during an off-campus fraternity ritual, per WAFB.
On Monday (March 10), Kyle Thurman, a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, was taken into custody in West Baton Rouge Parish on felony hazing charges in connection to Wilson's death. Thurman was picked up by U.S. Marshalls from a home in Port Allen after he missed the deadline to turn himself in over the weekend.
Wilson, 20, died on February 27 after collapsing during an Omega Psi Phi ritual where pledges stand in line. Initial police reports indicated that the incident occurred at a park, but it was later reported that the original story given to authorities was fabricated. Omega Psi Phi pledges reportedly participated in the ritual inside a Baton Rouge warehouse, where each prospective member stood in a line and was forced to take punches to the chest as part of the initiation process, per the sources.
After being hit, Wilson reportedly collapsed to the ground and began having a seizure. WAFB sources said fraternity members met at an undisclosed location to fabricate the narrative that Wilson collapsed at the park.
Caleb McCray, a graduate of Southern University and member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, was arrested last week on charges of criminal hazing and manslaughter in Wilson's death.
A third suspect and Omega Psi Phi member, Isaiah Smith, who is facing felony hazing charges, is still at large. According to WAFB, Smith's father, Todd, leased the warehouse where the alleged hazing occurred. If convicted for felony hazing, Smith and Thurman could face up to five years in prison.
McCray's bond was set at $100,000. He left jail last week and is due back in court in May.
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