NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – A California State University, Northridge student died after he hiked barefoot through the Angeles National Forest as part of a fraternity hazing ritual.
Armando Villa was with eight other Pi Kappa Phi pledges when he suddenly collapsed on July 1. A park ranger found the teen, with his bare feet covered in blisters, lying unconscious on a trail. He was taken to a local hospital where he died from heat stroke, New York Daily News reports.
Villa’s family believes that all the pledges were left in the woods without shoes or cell phones, forced to find their way out of the area. Each pledge was given a little bit of water to keep them hydrated.
Police and university officials are investigating the incident. The Zeta Mu chapter has been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
Individual students who were involved in the hike could also face consequences from the university if it is determined that they played a direct role, NBC Los Angeles reports.
