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Prosecutor to Make Decision in Florida A&M Marching Band Member Robert Champion Hazing Death Case



Florida A&M Marching 100 member Robert Champion succumbed to hazing in late November of last year. The 26-year-old was found unresponsive on a bus following a football game after suffering internal bleeding caused by being struck repeatedly.

There is currently an ongoing investigation on the circumstances surrounding his death. It is nearing 5 months since he has died and there are still no arrests.

Last week, public records were released and gave many a look inside the world of the hazing culture at the University.

The public records that were obtained shed light on extent of the hazing practices at Florida A&M. In one such email, a father of a band member wrote to Florida A&M President James Ammons that he was concerned for his son’s future.

“I feel that my son’s future could be in jeopardy,” Donovan Crosby wrote Ammons in the email, which is part of the public records obtained.

The records reveal warnings and pleas from parents to stop hazing at the university. But no serious effort was taken to stop the rituals from taking place.

Crosby said his son later left FAMU and enrolled in another college in Florida, AP reports.

“It was the worst decision in his life to go to FAMU,” Crosby said.

Last week, CNN reported authorities finished their investigation and handed the case over to prosecutors who will make a decision on possible charges.

“During the course of this investigation, Orange County Sheriff’s Office investigators have worked over 1000 man hours and over 40 individuals have been interviewed,’ Orange County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement Monday, March 26, as reported by CNN. “We have worked closely with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and on numerous occasions investigators have traveled to and from Tallahassee to meet with witnesses and gather statements.”

Champion’s death has called for stricter laws on hazing.

Watch Robert Champion Tribute Video in Collegiate NetVision (CNV) by clicking here.

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