A Northern Arizona University (NAU) student has died after an off-campus fraternity event.
On Saturday morning, police in Flagstaff, Arizona, responded to a call about an 18-year-old male student who was found not breathing at a home. Police and bystanders tried to help, but the student was pronounced dead at the scene.
An investigation revealed that the student had attended a “rush” event for the Delta Tau Delta fraternity the night before. It’s reported that alcohol was consumed by several potential new members, including the student who died.
As a result, three members of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, all 20 years old, have been arrested and charged with hazing. Hazing is when someone is forced to eat or drink something, including alcohol, that could seriously harm their health.
Police are still investigating the death and working with the medical examiner to determine exactly what happened.
NAU officials called the student’s death a “devastating loss.” They stated that they are helping the police with their investigation and emphasized that the safety of their students is their top priority. The university added that violence, hazing, or any behavior that puts others in danger is not acceptable at NAU.
Hazing is illegal in most states, including Arizona. In Arizona, a law called Jack’s Law means that if hazing leads to someone’s death, the person responsible could face up to 3.75 years in prison.
Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to come forward.
