FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (WKRC) — A student is dead after an alleged hazing incident at an off-campus fraternity event.
The incident happened around 8:44 a.m. on Saturday, January 31.
Police received reports of an 18-year-old male student at Northern Arizona University (NAU) being found “unresponsive” at a residence on S. Pine Grove Road.
“Bystanders inside the home initiated CPR prior to police arrival,” said the Flagstaff Police Department (FPD) in a release. “Upon arrival, officers found the individual not breathing and continued life-saving measures on scene until paramedics arrived.”
Despite the life-saving measures, the teen was declared dead at the scene.
The detective investigating the death found that the teen student had “attended a gathering at the residence the previous evening.” That gathering was then found to be a rush event for the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, according to FPD. It’s believed that alcohol was consumed by several pledge members while at the event, including the student who died.
Since the incident, three Delta Tau Delta members have been arrested and charged with hazing, according to NBC News. Those three students were identified as:
- 20-year-old Carter Eslick
- 20-year-old Ryan Creech
- 20-year-old Riley Cass
Hazing is officially described as “the act in which a person is forced to consume food or liquid, including alcohol or other substances, which may cause a substantial risk to their health,” according to PEOPLE.
“Detectives are continuing to follow up on additional leads, reviewing evidence, and coordinating with the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the cause and manner of death,” said the FPD.
NAU issued an official statement in regard to the death, which the school called a “devastating loss.”
“We are aware that the FPD has announced criminal charges against three NAU students in connection with an incident that occurred at an off-campus residence associated with the Delta Tau Delta fraternity,” said NAU. “We appreciate the diligence of the FPD as they work to establish the facts and pursue accountability. We want to be clear: The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priorities. Violence, hazing, or any other behavior that endangers others has no place at NAU.”
Across the United States, hazing is illegal in 44 out of the 50 states. Additionally, an anti-hazing bill, which is also known as “Jack’s Law,” was established in Arizona in 2022. The law states that if a person dies in regard to a hazing incident, the people responsible can face nearly four years in prison.
