Teen hazing suspects given 48 hours to turn themselves in

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj45kzg1dp2o

Version 0 of 3.

Authorities in New York state say a group of high school athletes brandished a gun and traumatised their teammates in an incident they described as "way beyond hazing".

The student-athletes at Westhill High School in Syracuse drove the younger players to the woods, where one of the victims had a pillowcase put over his head and was put in the boot of a car.

At a news conference on Tuesday, Onondaga County District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick ordered the players to turn themselves in within 48 hours or risk being prosecuted as adults.

Investigators said at least 11 students were suspected of involvement in the incident, and at least five younger athletes were targeted.

"I cannot really adequately express to this community the level of stupidity and lack of judgment involved in this case," Fitzpatrick said.

Authorities said that on 24 April, the victims were offered a ride after a lacrosse game and were taken to nearby woods after the driver of the vehicle pretended to be lost.

"At some point by prearrangement, people came out of the woods all dressed in black. They were armed with what appeared to be at least one handgun and at least one knife," Fitzpatrick told reporters.

"I've seen the videotape of what happened to this young man. It is not a rite of passage," Fitzpatrick said, referring to the student who had the pillowcase put over his head.

"I'm not trying to sissify American youth," he said. "If you want to welcome someone onto your team and toughen them up, maybe an extra hour of practice might be appropriate, as opposed to taking someone at gunpoint, stuffing them in the back of the car and traumatizing them for the rest of his life."

Fitzpatrick said that if the older players voluntarily turn themselves in they will face a misdemeanour charge of unlawful imprisonment and will be released to the custody of their parents, and that the case would likely be dealt with in family court, meaning that they could avoid a criminal record.

However, he said if the suspects don't turn themselves in, they will be arrested, charged with a felony charge of kidnapping, and that he would seek to try them as adults. If convicted, they could face prison sentences of up to 25 years.

"Some people have been cooperative with the sheriff's office and given statements, some people have not," Fitzpatrick said.

None of the names of the suspects or victims have been released by police.

Westhill Central School District Superintendent Steve Dunham said that the team's lacrosse season has been cancelled.

In a statement, he said the district is cooperating with the district attorney's investigation.