Thirty seven people associated with the Pi Delta Psi fraternity at a New York college will face charges for the death of a pledging freshman.
The charges stem from an incident in 2013 when Michael Deng died during a harsh hazing ritual following a head injury.
As part of the ritual police say members of Baruch College’s Pi Delta Psi fraternity blindfolded pledges and made them walk across a snow-covered field while carrying a backpack full of sand. While pledges made the walk members of the fraternity would take turns tackling them.
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When Deng suffered a head injury fraternity members called the national president and waited to take Deng to the hospital, according to NBC News.
Deng had suffered repeated blunt force trauma to his head, torso and thighs and a medical examiner testified that the gap between when he passed out and when he was taken to the hospital “significantly contributed” to Deng’s death.
Five of the young men face charges of third degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault, while the rest will face charges such as hindering apprehension, hazing and criminal conspiracy.
