Syracuse, New York DA gives 11 students who were involved in a terrifying hazing incident exactly 48 hours to turn themselves in... or face "harsher consequences".
Syracuse District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick says he has decided to go forward with charges against 11 students from West Hill High School who were involved in a traumatic hazing incident on April 24th. Not only is he going forward with charges, he has issued an ultimatum to those students involved.
He has stated that if the students turn themselves in within 48 hours of issuing the ultimatum the case will be handled through family court and will not be on their permanent criminal record. However if they do not surrender to authorities in this time frame, they will be prosecuted as adults and charged with kidnapping in the second degree.
This ultimatum comes after the April 24th incident that Fitzpatrick referred to as "hazing on steroids". On the evening in question, varsity members of Westhill Lacrosse team decided to haze some younger members. The underclassmen were led to believe they were attending a lacrosse game and going out to eat at McDonald's after with their varsity teammates.
After leaving the restaurant the driver claimed he was lost and stopped the car in a rural area. This is when additional varsity players emerged from the woods dressed in all black and brandishing a handgun and knife.
3 of the 4 potential victims were able to flee the scene without being caught by the upperclassmen. One young student was not so lucky. He was captured and had a pillow case placed over his head and was tied up before being forced into the trunk of the car. The whole ordeal was captured on video by the upperclassmen. A video that Fitzpatrick has viewed and crystallized his decision to go forward with charges.
For their part, Westhill High-school has cancelled the remainder of the varsity lacrosse team's season saying they need a reset to address the culture of the program that led to this traumatic hazing incident.
Do you believe the 48-hour ultimatum is fair and they should only be tried through family court if they come forward or do you believe they should be tried for kidnapping?.
More photos below .
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