Suspect charged with manslaughter after Southern University student dies in alleged hazing incident

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A suspect has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of Southern University and A&M College student Caleb Wilson in an alleged hazing incident, police announced on Friday, Mar. 7.

23-year-old Caleb McCray faces charges of manslaughter and criminal hazing. He turned himself in to police Thursday, Mar. 6, a week after Wilson died.

His bond was set at $75,000 for the manslaughter charge and $25,000 for the hazing charge.

Southern University alleged hazing incident : Southern University student Caleb Wilson dies

Wilson, a 20-year-old mechanical engineering junior and a member of the “Human Jukebox” marching band at the college, died following an off-campus incident last week, school officials said.

He was taken to a local hospital unresponsive by a group of males and was pronounced deceased shortly after midnight on Feb. 27, according to the Baton Rouge Police Department.

The group reportedly dropped off Wilson at the emergency room and reported he collapsed after being struck in the chest while playing basketball at a city park, according to court filings. But upon investigation, officers learned that the incident actually occurred at a warehouse in Baton Rouge while he was pledging to a fraternity, Baton Rouge Police Chief said during a press briefing Friday.

“Caleb Wilson died as a direct result of a hazing incident where he was punched in the chest multiple times while pledging to Omega Psi Phi Fraternity,” police said.

Authorities said at no point did anyone involved in the incident called 911.

Suspect arrested and charged for Southern University student’s death; more arrests to come

McCray is among at least three people alleged to have punched Wilson and eight other pledges with boxing gloves while the students stood in a line during a meeting at a flooring company warehouse on Feb. 26, according to the police affidavit.

McCray allegedly punched Wilson four times in the chest, at which point Wilson fell to the floor, becoming unresponsive and appearing to have a seizure, according to the affidavit. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Detectives recovered a pair of black boxing gloves while executing a search warrant of the warehouse on Feb. 28, according to the affidavit.

“All information gathered at this point in the investigation indicates that McCray did not have any intent to cause death or great bodily harm to any of the pledges,” the affidavit stated.

McCray is a current member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, according to the affidavit. He reportedly graduated from Southern University with a sociology degree in December 2024.

Police are currently drawing up warrants for two additional suspects.

Investigation into Caleb Wilson’s death

Southern University, a historically Black college and university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, said it is “fully cooperating” with the criminal investigation. The university is also conducting an internal investigation into what led to Wilson’s death following reports of “unsanctioned off-campus activities” and will “take appropriate action” once completed.

“Hazing is a violation of the University’s rules and regulations as well as Louisiana law, and it will not be tolerated in any form at Southern University,” the school said.

The cause of Wilson’s death has not yet been determined while awaiting the results of an autopsy and forensic tests.

Club activities suspended at the university

The HBCU suspended all club recruiting activities, including those related to Greek life in the wake of Wilson’s death, a university spokesman said.

On Friday, Feb. 28, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity International President Ricky L. Lewis described Wilson as “a beloved son, grandson, brother, nephew and cousin” who was also “a scholar, an exceptional member of the Southern University Marching Band and a passionate and dedicated leader in student life.”