Authorities have apprehended two additional suspects related to the death of a Southern University student in an alleged off-campus fraternity hazing incident.
On March 10th, Kyle Thurman (25) was the second suspect arrested in Port Allen, La., in connection to the death of Caleb Wilson, a 20-year-old Southern University student, who was pledging to become a member of Omega Phi Psi fraternity.
The third suspect, 28-year-old Isaiah Smith, the fraternity chapter’s Dean of Pledges, turned himself in to authorities on March 11th. Smith is the son of Todd Smith, a business owner who was leasing business space in the warehouse where the hazing took place, as reported by WBRZ News.
Wilson was reportedly punched in the chest four times during a fraternity ritual by members. Wilson collapsed on the fourth punch, and had a seizure before he was taken to a hospital in Smith’s vehicle.
The affidavit states that surveillance footage shows Smith removing Wilson from his vehicle. According to WBRZ News, the men told medical professionals that Wilson collapsed while playing basketball at BREC’s North Sherwood Park in Baton Rouge, La. He was pronounced dead on February 27th. The autopsy report reveals that Wilson has bruising in his chest.
L-R: Vigal ceremony on the campus of Southern University in honor of Caleb Wilson; Wilson’s mother, whose sitting beside her husband (Wilson’s father) is console during vigal – Photo Credit: The Advocate/Javier Gallegos; and photo image of Caleb Wilson; Courtesy of CalebJ24/TikTok
No call to 911 was made as members changed his clothing, took him to a nearby hospital, and falsified a story of him collapsing while playing basketball.
Smith’s lawyer, Franz Borghardt, told reporters that his client has never been in trouble with the law and noted that he’s not accused of making physical contact with the victim.
The first suspect, 23-year-old Caleb McCray, was arrested on March 7th for alleged criminal hazing and manslaughter. His bond was set at $100,000, according to the news outlet.
Authorities reported that McCray, Thurman, and Smith, members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc, used boxing gloves to punch Wilson and other pledge members in the chest.
Ricky Lewis, grand basileus (president) for Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, released a statement that they are “actively working to gather accurate information” while authorities are investigating the incident and “we fully support their efforts to seek the truth.”
Smith and Thurman face charges of felony criminal hazing, while McCray faces criminal hazing and manslaughter charges. Up to ten people could be arrested in the illegal hazing incident, according to WBRZ News.
On March 7th, Southern University suspended all new member activities for fraternities and sororities for the remainder of the academic year, pending an internal investigation into the hazing-related death of Wilson.
Wilson, Kenner, Louisiana native, was a junior majoring in mechanical engineering at Southern University and a member of the school’s Human Jukebox band.
