Arrest warrants have been issued for eight people accused of taking part in a series of violent hazing incidents at one Youngstown State University fraternity.
"This is totally unacceptable behavior. We won't tolerate it," said YSU President Dr. Cynthia Anderson of the allegations against the YSU chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.
Earlier this month, 20-year-old Resean Yancey was admitted to the hospital in critical condition and put on a respirator.
"He had sustained very serious injuries that we later learned were a result of initiation rights into a local fraternity, also known as hazing," said Youngstown City Prosecutor Jay Macejko.
A second victim, Braylen Stubbs, 22, said he was the victim of similar beatings with the same fraternity. His attack was discovered as police investigated the attack on Yancey.
An investigation by Youngstown police and YSU police named eight individuals as suspects. Each is charged with two counts of felonious assault in the beatings of the two victims several times between January and February.
The suspects charged are:
- Trey McCune, 21, of Ohio Avenue, Youngstown;
- Edward Robertson, 28, of Catalina Avenue, Youngstown;
- Jerome Justice, 28, Tremble Avenue, Campbell;
- Michael Charles, 28, Illinois Avenue, Youngstown;
- Jairus Ford, 32, Greeley Lane, Youngstown;
- Lavell Sharp, 25, Illinois Avenue, Youngstown;
- Wade Hampton, 24, Deer Creek Court, Austintown;
- Jason Anderson, 27, of Illinois Avenue, Youngstown.
Of the eight suspects, only one, 21-year-old Trey McCune is an active YSU student. The others are former students or associates of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, ranging in age from 24 to 32 years old.
Kappa Alpha Psi is suspended during the ongoing investigation, and Dr. Anderson said they could be kicked off campus permanently.
"We need to be role models, not only while we have students here at the university, but afterwards, and yeah, I was disappointed," Dr. Anderson said.
Officials are shocked by the severity of this alleged violent hazing, and they're asking any other victims to come forward. As for the accused, Macejko had this to say:
"We would expect these individuals to surrender to authorities. If we don't hear from them within the next 24 hours or so, the warrants will go active, and I'm sure law enforcement will seek them out."
The investigation is still ongoing, said police, and there's a possibility others may be charged.
In a statement released Wednesday, Anderson said YSU officials met last week with the leaders of all the fraternities and sororities on campus to reiterate YSU's strict policies against hazing, the release states.
"Any campus student organization or individual participating in any activity that threatens the safety of the campus community will be dealt with promptly and severely," she said in the release. "Such behavior is unacceptable, will not be tolerated and reflects badly on the many student organizations that are working positively on behalf of the university, the community and their members."
