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Subscribe to RSS13 people will be charged in the case of a Florida marching band drum major who was killed in Orlando. NBC's Chris Clackum reports.
Updated at 10:05 p.m. ET: Thirteen people were charged Wednesday in the death of Florida A&M university drum major Robert Champion, who died after being beaten during a hazing ritual in November.
State Attorney Lawson Lamar announced the charges at a news conference Wednesday, five months after Champion, 26, died aboard a chartered bus parked outside an Orlando hotel. He called the young man’s death an American tragedy.
Prosecutors say Champion was hazed to death by bandmates in November after the annual Florida Classic football game in Orlando. Florida’s A&M football team had lost.
"No one would have expected that his college experience would have included being pummeled to death," Lamar, the state attorney for Orange-Osceola County, said during the news conference. “I have come to believe that hazing is a term for bullying, bullying with a tradition.”
Lamar said 11 of the 13 people charged face felony charges. Most of the charges were third-degree felonies for "hazing with death," punishable under Florida law by a maximum of six years in jail, according to Lamar. Twenty others face misdemeanor charges, including some for others victims who were not seriously injured.
Lamar said he would not release names until all are in custody, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Authorities announced Wednesday evening that Caleb Jackson, 24, Rikki Wills, 24, were charged with felony hazing. Wills was a drum major last fall. Jackson has been booked 10 times before, for domestic battery, disorderly conduct and aggravated battery, according to inmate records.
The medical examiner ruled Champion’s death a homicide in the course of hazing by the university’s celebrated Marching 100 band. Detectives told The Associated Press that he suffered blunt trauma blows and died from shock caused by severe bleeding. Hazing that involves bodily harm is a third-degree felony in Florida.
One of the hazing traditions, according to The New York Times, was to punch a band member walking down the aisle of the bus.
FAMU marching band members to face charges in drum major hazing death
In a six-minute 911 call obtained by the AP, an unidentified caller asked the dispatcher for an ambulance, saying that Champion had just vomited.
"His eyes are open, but he's not responding," the caller said. Another person took the phone and said, “He is cold.”
Shortly after, the call was disconnected.
Four students were dismissed after the alleged hazing, but Champion’s parents were frustrated that no charges had been filed.
Witnesses have told Champion’s parents that he might have been targeted because he opposed the culture of hazing that they say has long existed in the band. It was also suggested to them that he was targeted because he was gay and a candidate for chief drum major.
But Champion's parents dismissed the notion that his sexual orientation triggered this incident.
"The main reason that we heard is because he was against hazing, and he was totally against it," Champion's father, Robert Champion Sr. told the AP.
His parents have sued the bus company.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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I hope those murderers get the maximum and the parents squeeze every dollar possible out of that school. Too many people knew about it for many to claim their hands are clean. Disgusting, and I don't want to see weeping murderers on TV saying they didn't mean it to go that far. Anyone who can viciously hurt someone in the name of fun and good times richly deserve punishment
100% AGREE WITH YOU MARY-313646
Hazing causing death is only a 3rd degree felony? The only thing more outlandish than this senseless act is this absurd Florida law that will allow these suspected murderers to be free within six years. I think it's time for the Florida legislature to reexamine their statute.
Those 13 were probably just "standing their ground" ... no crime here it's Florida
This is just a sad story with no winners...........everyone lost.
keep it hidden and the monies from alumni and others will continue.. nlet it out and that funding dries up,, just like Penna State..
What a senseless MURDER!! What Robert Champion must have gone through makes me physically ill. And now his parents have to live life without their son. I say hang all those involved from the nearest tree. They do not derserve to live! I pray the Champions find comfort from family and friends through this horrific time.
Nah... they'll just use the 'Stand Your Ground' defense and everything will be peachy.
In Prison, 'Bubba' will 'Haze' these punx, where the sun don't shine!
Florida is a huge steaming pile of feces with their medieval laws like Stand your ground and this nonsense. Six years for killing someone, MAX!
If you want someone dead in Florida just start a hazing ritual, get some friends to come on over and kill away. Most you'll get is six years...
They should all be charged with manslaughter which has much higher penalties.
they sued the bus company not the school, and what does the school have to do with it...its the dumbass students and their families that need to be responsible
I agree, the child are old enough to know better, sue the children and their parents. Unless the bus driver was involved or sat there and watch the boy die the bus company and school are not responsible for college student; it would be different story if the kid were young enough to require a chaperone but they were not.
It a shame all the way around, my prayer go out to all the families involved.
Maximum of 6 years? People today are literally getting away with murder.
Robert's punishment was forever, and he didn't do anything wrong.
The law really needs to be revised to give these murderers a second thought before they harm others, especially innocent people.
Bunch of POS cowards.
Agreed 100%
Now bus companies will fear transporting students to activities and make these events even less frequent in addition to having lost any sense of dignity or respect when out representing your school. How is the bus company responsible for this behavior? Even adult students traveling en masse have an advisor of some sort paid by the school for some sort of responsibility - albeit disinterested and just complying with state rules.
Let's be honest, for decades, we've felt that "manning up" is required to face the world and build character - even gain entry to a band that has been recognized for years as extremely talented and fostering opportunities for students who otherwise might not have continued their studies/music. Every parent has heard that their child just needs to face the bullies/requirements and find ways to overcome them just as all other social ills. Every parent has wondered how teaching "sticks and stones" will one day actually help.
When the pain and suffering is too much to bear... look for a company to sue. That seems to be another rich and historic tradition.
Bands or fraternities... the second you try to kick my ass or force feed me alcohol is the time for me to wake up and say to myself "I don't need this @!$%#" (sorry for the language).
Spoken by a current student at the University of Tennessee - where two or three years ago we had a freshman whose heart stopped for several minutes during the hazing of a pathetic fraternity. He was told to drink a fifth of Jack Daniels in an hour. Now if that doesn't scream brotherhood or self respect then I don't know what does!
It is absurd that they are going after the bus company. The bus company had nothing to do with it. The only reason for going after the bus company is that they have deeper pockets than the students who are the ones responsible. If the university was aware of the hazing and allowed it to continue go after the university. The bus company is paid to transport the students from one place to another. It is not up to the bus company or the driver to get in the middle of what as going on with the passengers, if the driver even knew what was happening. On these big tour buses it would be easy for something to be going on in the back of the bus with the driver, who is concentrating on the road, not even being aware of it. I hope that the suit against the bus company is thrown out. Let the parents go after the students involved and the university, leave the bus company out of it.
Do you suppose that if obama had a son, he would have looked like him?
really hate to say it and sorry for this boys death, glad it wasn't white students who did it or we would have everyone from sharpton, jackson, oboma and the black panther party screaming and yelling and get people more upset against each other.
divide and conquor, the libs motto.
liberals say we don't need oil, since they all go
to work on bus's
words to live by: if the democrats are so much for
womens rights, how come they ran a man against hillary and the the so called va
running for governor is a man. why not run women. they talk the talk but not do not walk the walk
walk.
Nothing i've heard justifys this young-man's life being taken. This senseless-act murdered this young-man and his violators should be punished as murderers. Its a shame when God's Greatest Creations dont have the sense that he instilled within them.
They should be charged with murder,so that people know this is going to far.Back in my day a little rough housing was nothing now they are taking lifes.
Where's the black panthers
To those asking why sue the bus company, there are reports that the bus driver guarded the door of the bus and stood lookout whilst the killing took place, if that's true is that justification for him to be held partially liable? I certainly think so.
@AussieRob - To answer your question, yes that would make the driver complicit, but it still would not justify suing the bus company. If the driver was doing something outside the scope of his employment, you can not hold the bus company responsible for those action.
All thirteen need to be tried and all that are convicted need to be hanged within 48 hrs. no point in spending millions taking care of them in prison. THEY KILLED someone by beating on him, not to defend themselves but for fun. HANG THEM AND ASK THEM HOW FUN IT WAS!!
JS, the parents aren't responsible for ascertaining the scope of a bus drivers employment, they are suing the bus company for whom the driver is an agent, if the bus company wish to claim he was acting outside his terms of employment they can counter sue the driver to recoup their costs
@AussieRob - No, it is up to the courts to make the determination. Your suggestion that the bus company get stuck paying and then go after the driver is absurd and only supports the idea of suing the deepest pockets. Why would the bus company have to pay out and then try and collect from the driver if the company had no role in what happened, that makes absolutely no sense. The bus company did nothing wrong and should not be a defendant on the suit.
How can the court determine that it's not the bus companies problem if they don't sue them and take it to court? You just disproved your own point. The question is who has the duty of care, if the company had no policies or if the driver has a past history and the company had reason to have taken action and dint then they may well bear some of the responsibility, all of these questions will be answered by a court when the parents sue.
Unbelievable. When will people learn?
Hazing is the stupidest, most backward act. These are University students? Just plain idiots!
Hazing goes back hundreds of years. It was a way for the elite students to practice theirs skills at keeping the lower class students (mostly bourgeois merchant class) in line, establishing their class superiority, and allowing them to practice subjugating their inferiors.
The fact that it has continued to this day just shows that the elitist mind frame has continued and the children of the wealthy and influential can carry on the tradition of subjugating their peers.
The cries of "class warfare" come so easy to some because there has always been class warfare being waged on the majority by the minority. Our society is no where near as classless as the politicians would have us believe.
Where are Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton to demand justice for this murder? The entire band should be charged with murder.
STHU! GAWD!! The Al and Jesse thing......old...really old. NEXT!!!
Mocha,
I have to agree with Xant, but not in a cynical or insulting way. I hear black on black crime is bad, so I think prominent black persons with clout in the black community like Al and Jesse should speak out for justice for the poor guy in the band.
Regardless of what color the murderers are they should all be punished and not let off the hook.
I have a lot of black friends and support anything that helps reduce crime in any area.
That's only when the accused are white. Doesn't apply in this case.
Black on Black violence isn't really a crime. They are just behaving normally in their natural enviroment.
Bad form Mr. Crapper
If I Have To Be Mistreated, Verbally Abused And Or Beaten In Order To Be A Part Of Any Group, Faternity, Or Social Organization I Would Not Give Them A Second Thought. (I Have Never Been Able To Understand The Stupidity Behind Abusing People In Order For Them To Feel Like They Are A Part Of Something). And That Goes For Each And Every Stupid Person, Faternity, And Or Organization That Would Embrace Such Stupitdity). AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT MANY MORE NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DEATH OF THIS YOUNG MAN AND ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED OVER THE YEARS BECAUSE OF HAZING. IT! IS! STUPID! STUPID! STUPID! (And Anyone Who Indorses Such Stupidity Need Their Brain and Soul Examined).
they won't be charged because they're probably black, thats why Sharpton or Jackson isn't there. I'll bet if a whitey were involved both would be present, another march would occur, and all the naacp along with the black panthers would be there also
The Reverends Jackson & Sharpton only look after thug punks! This kid had a brain....that don't count!
this is not important enough for them, just like the other young man that was killed in Florida..
the kids are being brought up on charges that are permitted by the law and that the prossecuter thinks he can prove. Why would jackson and Sharpton get involved. Its not like NOTHING was done. This is old news. The investigation happened a while ago and with all the lawyers and all the motions, it is now ready for trial. Not sure what else you expect to happen.
Here we go again with the Jesse and AL comments...GOD!!! I'm black and I hate to see these two idiots myself but damn you guys continue to let them live through your (mostly stupid and racist) comments. Hey, quick question....what exactly warrants you guys to be so blatantly hateful against the entire race? Very serious question here....I know some of you will attack me with racist remarks, but can I get an intellegent answer from one of you? And please DO NOT respond with the very played out and cliche'ish (Shanika who live off the guvment check w/9 kids or a graph showing disproportionate number of crimes involving blacks) because every race is guilty of committing a disproportionate crime of some sort...
Kevin,
I do not condone the racist remarks nor the attitude of some of the posters but I understand them bringing up Jesse and Al. Unfortunately it appears that these two only seem to make a big stink when it is a white on black crime being committed. I cannot remember EVER hearing them come out nationally when it was a black on black crime.
There is racism out there and it is truely unfortunate. But the racists do come in ALL colors and not just white. The two people who self-profess to be leaders of the African-American people do seem racist to many.
I usually don't get involved in this black/white war, but it is such a tired game of hate and attitude. I understand what the posters are getting on about when it comes to Al and Jesse. They DO only show up when the crime is against a black person.
And while I understand that people are tired of hearing that comment, when is America going to stop having to hear the over-used slavery story? It's time to get past that and move on. We ALL have had things done wrong to our generations past, but we cannot continue to dwell on the bad things that happened before we were even born, in hopes to profit from it and stir up trouble. HOW can you possibly and logically blame people on earth today, for what happened then, when neither you nor the rest of us were even here?!
All people are doing is fueling the hate that spreads like cancer. Enough already! We don't have to worry about terrorists. We are terrorizing our own!
My question is: Why are yall so intimidated my Al and Jesse? Judging from how alot of whites view us, they are needed!!!
Oh please Mocha. wah wah wah. Come down to where I live and see who treats who like what. Just so you know, I'm not and I doubt very many whites are intimidated by Jesse, Al or anyone else. Rediculous people don't have what it takes to "intimidate" others. Besides comparing "intimidation" to being TIRED of something, is a cop out used only to stir the pot.
Don't bother with your hogwash. The pig don't fly here anymore.
Absolutely, these people need to be charged. No matter what the reason is; sexual orientation or against hazing. This is pure violence!
Actually everybody on that bus needs to be investigated. Did anyone try to stop this? Where is the common sense in these people?
More brainless sports jocks ,cowards that think they are strong beating on someone smaller. Too bad he did not have a 40 cal 14 round and stand his ground.
Hate to tell you this fred...........but it was the band not sports jocks..........I guess you didn't read the story.
Pay attention Fred.
Reading comprehension can be a challenge to some people, i know, but c'mon.
I think this is the first time I have heard of band members being refered to as "sports jocks". Maybe to the chess club they are sports jocks though.
So wrong........yet so funny.
here we go, sue the bus company cause they got money. what about the bus FULL of his peers that let this happen? what a joke culture you all subcribe to, and then blame everyone else. poor guy.
I believe they are suing the bus company because it was said in a previous article the driver stood guard while the hazing was taking place and knew what was happening. That would make the driver a part of it.
And the bus full of his peers are the ones being charged.
Cudacraze, Thank you for bringing that up. The whole story is a sad one but then right at the end to find his parents are suing the bus company?!?! As if they condone that sort of behavior. This sue-happy world disgusts me. Sad that these parents lost their child but to go on a hunt for a lawsuit from the people NOT responsible for his murder is just classless. Ah well, anything to earn a quick buck I guess. Such a shame.
First I believe that the bus company is complicit in the event because the driver was observing the whole thing and I believe that it is charged that he was standing guard or acting as a look out.
Second, his peers are being charged. Not all but the ones involved. And, as messed up as it is anyone else on the buss did not have a legal obligation to step in and stop it. They only had the obligation to report it and cooperate with the investigation. If I saw 13 people beating down 1 guy I might be slow to try to stop them. It would just turn from 13 on 1 to 13 on 2 and I would get a beating too. Good thing that there are laws that specifically state that an observer doesn’t have to get involved as long as he/she reports it and cooperates.
Good!! Charge'em
Fred, these were not sports jocks, they were band members. This was a hazing. Get real and get off your soap box. And yes just what we need is a gun brought into this mess.
verno - In my opinion, a gun definitely would have helped Mr. Champion not get beaten to death.
...and a gun would have cleaned that mess up in a jiffy!
Honestly, how would Mr. Champion having a gun NOT have been a good thing in this situation? Really, please parse it out for me, I'm just not getting it.
Every one involved should be charged and I don't think the maximum six year prison sentence is any where near enough time. I hope every one of them receives the six years!!!
I hope they all get what they deserve, but a maximum of 6 years in prison does not seem fit justice for the crime. Bunch of punks with no common sense, you think someone would have tried to stop this
@TheAirdog, unfortunately, never, this is the barbaric society we live in
Exactly steelerfanfl. All of this crap about bullying in the media anymore and no one wants to call it as it is. Our society has become barbaric. These kids who killed this other kid have probably had a lifetime of positive reinforcement for those very same actions. Now they will face consequences. The trial, the sentencing and the prison rapes they'll suffer should all be televised.
I refused to allow my daughter to attend this school because I heard of this stupid mess. Sad thing is I was talking to a former band member (say 25 yrs ago) and sounded as if this is Ok and acceptable. Loss all interest in having this person as a friend. I thought he must be mentally ill to agree to something like this. He tried to explain that you are becoming a part of something elite.Yea, right.
I hope they all get time, but, I want to see administrators and staff serve time as well. They all knew this was happening many years ago. This child had to lose his life for something to happen, when this was always well known.
What I do not understand is why my people, black people feel the need to cause damage to someone else for the cause of fun? I am baffled!!
Black people need to wake up, we talk about the slave masters but yet, we seem to live with the same mentality of a slave master to our own kind, daily. Wake up black america!!!!
Angelene,
Sounds to me like the right call to back away from this friend. "Becoming part of something elite" is probably the idea behind getting jumped (beaten) to get into a street gang. You'd think college students would have more brains.
But what you fail to understand that this is not a black thing; hazing happens everywhere. I am from Orlando and UCF has suspended several fraternities and sororities for the same act, the only difference is that this was a black school and the spotlight was pointed at them.
No one should have to be part part of any organization if the ritual of admission is hazing. We should educated all of our children going off to college and wants to be a part of an organization so bad that they would allow themselves to be beated and punished.
Murder is murder.... Everybody involved should be charged accordingly..
Time for Florida A&M to disband "the 100" for at least 10 years so as to remove all traces of this organized bullying from their institution, and to punish the school for not looking out for their student body. This was known about for a VERY long time and was glossed over by the administration as "boys will be boys" garbage. The 100 is one of Fla A&M's few cash cows, so they will never stop their money train from bringing in the $. Even if it is full of thugs with no respect for the gift of an education that many others would love to have.
Nothing will happen. Nothing will change. This same thing happened at the same school years ago and you can see the result. Probation, maybe. They probably won't be expelled. They probably will even be allowed to graduate. Something the dead student was denied or given the opportunity to acheive. It's just one dead kid. Traditions are what's important, right ? Obviously they are to some people.
Sue the bus company? So now the parents are frickin scumbags along with the lawyer that most likely pointed them in that direction. Hazing to be in a marching band??? Because it's so tough and elite??? Usually you get beat up for being IN the band!!! I've heard in all now. What a joke.
Where is the outrage, I guess if the perpatrator was named George Zimmerman they would have been arrested and convicted before any trial could commence.
Grow up idiot.
People choose their battles, and that is perfectly within their rights.
If you want to protest about it, feel free. You might gain some support by others.
Mike I'm intrigued how do you conduct a trial before someone is arrested for a crime?
So sad that kids still think hazing is a great thing. Life is so short and why make it shorter?
I had no idea nerds were this violent???
Sorry, I mispelled perpetrator.
justice has been served.....
you CANNOT kill anyone for NO REASON....
George Zimmerman - you are next...
(and I'm a white redneck from South Carolina)
So in Florida, if you kill someone, you just say I was hazing him...all in good fun. Only get 6 years...SWEET!!!
Also if Champion had shot & killed all 13 of them "standing his ground" he would have walked. Florida is an interesting place.
its sad that it doesnt surprise me his parents are now after money for the incident....what a joke, mourn your sons death and go after those responsible...money isn't everything, it cant bring your son back
If the bus company isn't responsible, they shouldn't get anything right?
That's why we like to leave everything to the court system right?
So get over it.
Surely-u-jest... you need to learn proper grammar....it's, you cannot kill anyone for any reason.
this is an old story, but I think that the bus driver was acting as a look out so that the band could do the hazing
Hope the felonies for this gang of animals brings 6 years each, with no parole.
Black, gay or anit-hazing. Is that reason to kill.