'Hadn't even finished the whole year': Fraternity brothers turn 'rush' event into 'hazing' party where freshman pledge died, cops say

An 18-year-old college pupil successful Arizona died during a fraternity "rush" lawsuit that turned into an alcohol-fueled "hazing" party, according to police.

The teenage unfortunate was successful his 2nd semester astatine Northern Arizona University and was a "pledge" campaigner successful attendance astatine a Delta Tau Delta lawsuit connected the 10 artifact of South Pine Grove Road successful Flagstaff connected Friday night, according to students and section cops.

"Alcohol depletion was reported to person occurred by galore individuals successful attendance, including pledge candidates," the Flagstaff Police Department said successful a press release.

Authorities were called connected Saturday greeting aft receiving a study astir the teen pledge, whose individuality has not been released, being recovered unresponsive astatine a location wherever the Delta Tau Delta enactment unfolded.

"Bystanders wrong the location initiated CPR anterior to constabulary arrival," the constabulary section said. "Upon arrival, officers recovered the idiosyncratic not breathing and continued life-saving measures connected country until paramedics arrived. Despite lifesaving efforts, the idiosyncratic was pronounced deceased connected scene."

Three NAU students and members of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity were arrested and booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility for the transgression complaint of hazing, according to Flagstaff police. They person been identified arsenic caller subordinate pedagogue Carter Eslick, 20; vice president Ryan Creech, 20; and treasurer Riley Cass, 20. All 3 are enforcement committee members of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity.

The arrests came aft detectives executed hunt warrants the time aft the enactment and conducted respective interviews of witnesses who were astatine the residence during it.

"Preliminary accusation indicates the deceased antheral … attended a gathering astatine the residence the erstwhile evening, identified arsenic a 'rush' lawsuit for the Delta Tau Delta fraternity," constabulary said. "Detectives are continuing to follow-up connected further leads, reviewing evidence, and coordinating with the Coconino County Medical Examiner's Office to find the origin and mode of death."

Delta Tau Delta officials sent Law&Crime a connection connected Monday saying they were "aware and profoundly saddened by the tragic incident" astatine NAU that progressive its members.

"The Fraternity is alert of an ongoing probe into the incidental and encourages its members' practice with section instrumentality enforcement," the connection said. "Delta Tau Delta is committed to partnering with section officials and the medication astatine Northern Arizona University to recognize what led to this tragedy."

Fraternity officials added that the section has been placed connected an "interim suspension" by NAU and is prohibited from "any activities" and associated operations pending the result of some "the nonrecreational probe and the consequent interior investigation" being conducted by Delta Tau Delta.

"Our presumption connected hazing is clear: it is the antithesis of brotherhood and a usurpation of the values of Delta Tau Delta," the officials said. "Since our founding, the fraternity has maintained beardown policies barring hazing, and our enactment vigorously supports the implementation of anti-hazing legislation, specified arsenic 'Jack's Law' successful Arizona and national laws, specified arsenic the 2024 Stop Campus Hazing Act."

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NAU released a connection astir the student's death, arsenic well, which noted however the unreserved lawsuit took spot astatine an off-campus residence.

"We privation to beryllium clear: The information and well-being of our students stay our highest priorities," the schoolhouse said. "The assemblage is reviewing this substance nether applicable assemblage policies and pupil behaviour processes, which are abstracted from the transgression justness system. In accordance with modular assemblage processes, NAU has interim suspended Delta Tau Delta to let a afloat probe to instrumentality spot and prioritize pupil safety."

The assemblage noted however "this nonaccomplishment has profoundly affected our campus," with students speaking to section media outlets successful the aftermath of his death.

"I conscionable deliberation that it's benignant of brainsick that radical who spell present could haze idiosyncratic to specified an grade that a kid is gone. It's truthful daunting," a pistillate pupil told local Fox affiliate KSAZ. "He was virtually successful his 2nd semester, hadn't adjacent finished the full year. I'm sad. It's not fair."