FAMU student’s death ruled homicide as a result of hazing
- 12/21/11
- Categorized in: Crime, DeKalb News
The recent alleged hazing death of a Southwest DeKalb High School marching band student attending Florida A&M University (FAMU) was ruled a homicide by officials on Dec. 16.
According to reports, Robert Champion, a student at FAMU who was a member of the school’s famous “Marching 100” band, was found unresponsive on the band’s bus on Nov. 19. Several days afterward officials stated hazing as a possible cause of death.
In the medical report, officials concluded “the death of Robert Champion, a 26-year-old male, is the result of hemorrhagic shock due to a soft tissue hemorrhage, incurred by blunt force trauma sustained during a hazing incident.”
Several days after Champion’s death, FAMU Band Director Julian White was fired. In a press release, FAMU President James Ammons said White was dismissed for “alleged misconduct and incompetence involving confirmed reports and allegations of hazing.”
Recently another “Marching 100” band member, Bria Shante Hunter, has come forward alleging band members beat her so badly she suffered a cracked thighbone and had to be taken to the hospital. This incident allegedly occurred several weeks before the death of Champion.
Both Hunter, who is suing FAMU, and Champion were members of a group within the band called the “Red Dawg Order,” made up of strictly members from Atlanta. Her injuries were from an alleged hazing incident inducting her into the group.
According to reports, Sean Hobson, 23, Aaron Golson, 19 and James Harris, 22, were charged with assaulting Hunter. Hobson is a graduate of Southwest DeKalb High School and Harris attended Druid Hills High School.
