Student’s alleged hazing death leads to arrest of three fraternity members after an incident during a weekend rush event at an Arizona college town, prompting a criminal investigation, university sanctions, and renewed scrutiny of hazing laws.
Three members of a fraternity in Flagstaff, Arizona, have been arrested on hazing charges following the death of an 18-year-old student during a rush-related gathering, according to local authorities. The incident has shaken the campus community and raised serious questions about fraternity oversight and student safety.
Police say officers were dispatched early Saturday morning to a residential home after receiving a call about an unresponsive young man. When first responders arrived, the student was not breathing, and people at the scene were already attempting CPR. Despite emergency medical efforts, the student was pronounced dead at the location.
Authorities later confirmed that the victim was a student at Northern Arizona University, though his name has not been released publicly. Investigators quickly began examining the circumstances leading up to his death.
Detectives with the Flagstaff Police Department executed search warrants at the residence and interviewed multiple witnesses. Through those interviews, police learned that a rush event for the Delta Tau Delta fraternity had taken place at the home the night before the student was found unresponsive.
According to police statements, alcohol was consumed by many people at the gathering, including fraternity pledges. Investigators said the deceased student was among those reported to have been drinking during the event, a detail that has become central to the hazing charge.
Following the investigation, three members of the fraternity’s executive board were taken into custody. Police identified them as the fraternity’s vice president, new member educator, and treasurer. All three are 20 years old and were booked into jail on hazing-related charges.
Court documents were not immediately available, but the men appeared before a judge on Sunday morning. During the hearing, public defenders were appointed to represent them for bail proceedings. No pleas were entered at that time.
The judge granted bail with strict conditions, including orders that the defendants must not communicate with one another or with any alleged victims connected to the case. The three are scheduled to return to court on February 19 for a pretrial conference.
The Coconino County Attorney’s Office confirmed that the case has not yet been formally submitted for prosecutorial review. However, officials said their office is working closely with local police as the investigation continues.
Northern Arizona University issued a statement calling the student’s death a “devastating loss” and extending condolences to the family and friends affected. The university acknowledged the arrests and clarified that the incident occurred at an off-campus property linked to the fraternity.
University officials emphasized that student safety is a top priority and stated that hazing, violence, or any behavior that puts lives at risk is unacceptable. As a precautionary step, the university announced the immediate suspension of Delta Tau Delta while it conducts its own internal review for potential policy violations.
The case also highlights Arizona’s anti-hazing law, passed in 2022 in memory of Jack Culolias, a freshman at Arizona State University who died in a fraternity-related incident in 2012. Under the law, hazing that results in death is classified as a Class 4 felony, carrying serious criminal consequences.
As investigators continue piecing together the events of that night, the tragedy has renewed calls for stronger enforcement, accountability, and cultural change within Greek life to prevent similar losses in the future.
