LSU close call mirrors previous LSU hazing death

A hospitalized male student and a female acquaintance’s suicide are at the center of the investigation, WBRZ learned Tuesday. The Advocate reported the female’s suicide came after the male student was hospitalized for alcohol poisoning.

The male student became critically ill after an incident late Sunday and was hospitalized Monday and was recovering Tuesday, sources told WBRZ. The woman’s suicide happened later Monday.

LSU said in a statement Tuesday, it was investigating incidents tied to a concern of violations of the LSU student code and East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore said his office is investigating a “potential hazing incident.”

The Advcoate/NOLA.com reported later Tuesday, the male and female involved in the situation are from the New Orleans area.

The ordeal has forced the university to suspend a fraternity as the investigation unfolds.

LSU announced Tuesday afternoon the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity was placed on interim suspension pending an investigation into the incident. The fraternity must halt all activities pending an investigation.

Moore added, the situation was “extremely similar” to the Max Gruver hazing case, which left an 18-year-old freshman dead in 2017.

Police are interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence to determine if there are any criminal violations, Moore said in a statement.

“…the case looks extremely similar in many aspects to the Gruver case, with the exception that there is not a death [directly tied to hazing],” Moore continued. He said those involved are cooperating.

In a Tuesday evening interview, Strategic Communications Vice President Jim Sabourin added, “When what we’re looking at may or may not be a single incident, but it stems from a single incident. What we are looking at is, does that show any evidence whatsoever of violation of the law and of LSU policies?”