FAMU Alleged Hazing Death: Prosecutors Gather Evidence

ORLANDO, Fla. (Associated Press) — Detectives have turned over evidence to prosecutors in the alleged hazing death of a Florida A&M marching band member.

The Ninth Circuit State Attorney's office reported Monday that it had received a case package from the Orange County Sheriff's Office involving the investigation of the death of drum major Robert Champion.

Authorities have said the 26-year-old student died Nov. 19 from shock caused by severe bleeding after a hazing ritual on a bus outside an Orlando hotel where the band was staying. The death came hours after Florida A&M's annual football game against archrival Bethune-Cookman.

While several band members have been charged with hazing-related crimes since Champion's death, no charges have been filed involving his case. Prosecutors won't say if or when they plan to file charges.

See Photos From Robert Champion's Funeral:

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Comments

[Sheryl York]

12:33 PM on 04/02/2012

Not to be disrespectful to anyone. Any death is a tragedy. Why has Obama stepped up to give his condolences to this young man?? Maybe because if he had a son it wouldn't have looked like this unfortunate band member? My thoughts and prayers go out to this family even though Obama is not. May God bless you all in this time of tragedy.

[Black Female Commentator]

01:21 PM on 04/02/2012

@Sheryl York

The Champion case has been handled in a proper manner, and prosecutions are on their way. However, in the Trayvon Martin case there has been a miscarriage of justice that has affected the President as well as others in way that we have taken the case personally. Thus, this case has nothing to do with President Obama, and it seems that you have displaced anger.

[ontheman]

04:00 PM on 04/02/2012

I have seen people turn into miserable vultures at the mention of Obama, but is it possible for you to consider Robert's family? I'm sorry: I will not ask you to be considerate.

[Conservativepolicysucks]

06:32 AM on 03/29/2012

It seems to me this case has some things in common with the case of Trayvon Martin:

1. It happened in the Orlando area.
2. The victim was a young black man.
3. No charges have been made against anyone, and the prosecutors seem to be taking forever to decide if there ever will be any charges.

How is this different from Trayvon Martin's case?

1. The alleged perpetrators are black.
2. This case has gotten far less attention from activists and the news media.

I think it's as important to bring the killers of Robert Champion to justice as it is for the killer of Trayvon Martin, maybe even more so, since Champion's killers do not have the excuse of self-defense. Why are the prosecuting attorneys acting so slow? Would they prosecute more aggressively if the victim was white?

[Sheryl York]

12:40 PM on 04/02/2012

You forgot to mention one HUGE difference. Why is Obama NOT recognizing this wonderful young man??????????????????? How does he pick and choose who looks like him and who he sends his prayers to? If he had chosen this young man he would have the same publicity as Trayvon. Personally, as a parent, I would not want all the crap and hoopla thrown about. It would make the lose almost to much to bare. It is bad enough that a young man was senselessly killed and then to have news and the general public making a scene instead of letting do process happen would be tough. Justice is not right all the time, look at O.J. simpson. He walked away after brutely killing 2 white people, by the way, I don't feel color should ever be an issue. Its 2012 for Christ sakes!

[ontheman]

04:01 PM on 04/02/2012

Vulture.

[Black Female Commentator]

01:31 PM on 04/02/2012

@Conservativepolicysucks

I read months ago about this case, and the attorney for the Champions has withheld charges against those directly responsible for Champion' s death until matters with those indirectly responsible for Champion's death (i.e., the administrators of FAMU) have been dealt with first.

[TDavis1176]

03:12 AM on 03/29/2012

So in Florida, you can get away with anything huh? Murdering your child and putting them in your trunk until you dispose of them, hazing someone to death, murdering a child over iced tea and skittles, beating a homeless guy senseless for no reason at all. The list goes on. i guess Florida is the town to get away with murder.

[Black Female Commentator]

01:34 PM on 04/02/2012

@TDavis1176

(Faved)

Florida is a state that you want to avoid! : )

[jbrutal]

11:51 PM on 03/28/2012

why would anyone in his/her right mind bother to comment on this story?

[june53]

12:36 AM on 03/28/2012

I do not comprehend why it would take eons of time for a grand jury or a prosecutor
to determine whether a crime was committed and by whom? The coroner ruled his
death a homicide - so someone (or several someones) on that bus committed murder
and the rest are witnesses or accomplices. Why the long time to ascertain who did
what? What happened to a speedy trial and all that?

[A Colored 1]

09:56 PM on 03/28/2012

Because it was Black on Black no ones cares..... Jessie Jackson, Rev Al , Obama, Congressional Black Cacus, NBC, ABC, CNN, FOX, they dont care .
IF on the other hand the student was killed by White students on the bus .... this case would be national news.....

[june53]

12:14 AM on 03/29/2012

I'm white and I CARE. I do understand your point however and concede that you are more likely correct. I just hate that in the year 2012, we are still dealing with such incidiously WRONG overt racism by both races in regards to crime - regardless of color. My goddaugher and her Mother are the two most important people in my life and I hate like "hell" to know that they (being Black) must deal with this type of muddled thinking and backwards ignorance in this country that prides itself publicly on how far we have progressed BUT how in reality, we aren't that far forward and it is a damn shame. Oy. My condolences to all affected regardless of color.

[Ramon Noches]

11:48 PM on 03/27/2012

Another senseless and idiotic tragedy caused by a group in a brainless frenzy doing all the wrong things that cost lives on college campuses every year. Beatings, swallowing down large chunks of oiled liver, or made to drink alcohol until poisoned, are typical of hazing activities that should require all participants to be imprisoned with long-term sentences. There is no excuse and colleges should provide strict warnings during enrollment about such conduct.

[kitty72]

02:23 AM on 03/28/2012

Amen and amen. If this was fraternity related, guys aren't the only ones doing this. Not to be outdone, sororities have also gotten into the act re this hazing crap. Those responsible ought to be tried and serve time. It won't bring the victims back, but it may provide their families some measure of closure and solace.

[wonderductor]

10:22 PM on 03/27/2012

sorry dude.......your already forgotton.....a white/spaniard killed a black punk......

[june53]

12:37 AM on 03/28/2012

Poor attempt at humor and on a humorless topic line for either situation.

[Arthur Huckaby]

10:22 AM on 03/28/2012

your is a possessive adjective, indicating ownership of something
you're is a contraction (combination) of you and are

Your comment is not funny and your grammar is atrocious.

[WhatevaCleva]

07:56 PM on 03/27/2012

What happened to Mr. Champion just breaks my heart...

[Kritikos]

06:23 PM on 03/27/2012

Bandbangers.

[Black Female Commentator]

01:41 PM on 04/02/2012

@Kritikos

Yep!

[shelby4087]

05:38 PM on 03/27/2012

Has there been another crime committed other than a hazing-related crime? A young man is dead as the result of hazing. Isn't that manslaughter?

[jauconxx]

05:04 PM on 03/27/2012

Why no charges have been filed? This case is a nightmare scenario for the prosecutors. Obviously they will charge someone. That is a given; someone did cause the death of this child. The real question is how the heck do you prove your case when just about every potential witnes is also in all likelihood a possible accomplice to the crime? The only one you could rule out for not hitting the victim is the Bus Driver because he was driving while the guy was getting beat-up, but, even then you can only rule out the possibility that he himself didn't physically participate. You cannot rule out the possibility that he in some way aided these criminals by turning a blind eye to what was going on. I can just see it now 20 or 40 people charged with murder and each and every single one saying they sat in the bus quietly and did absolutely nothing wrong, they may even throw in a little story about how they where sleeping and couldnt hear anything that was going on and swear that it was the other 19 to 39 people that did the act. All of them blaming each other and not one admitting to what really happened... Being a slightly cynicle person, I just don't see justice down the road for this particular young man... But, maybe this is a call to action so we can save the next victim, I hope so...

[media1]

05:03 PM on 03/27/2012

The band gang?

[NadineIsBad]

04:11 PM on 03/27/2012

why hasnt al and jesse gone over there and voiced their opinion ... oh ... it doesnt involve whites ...

[pandoralou]

04:48 PM on 03/27/2012

How disgusting that you could react to this terrible tragedy in such a cavelier and blatantly racist manner. This family lost their child! You should truly hope for more compassion if something so heartbreaking ever happens to you.

[media1]

05:02 PM on 03/27/2012

I'd like to know why also.
Oh..Black on black crime, no big deal.

[Janet Cooke]

07:19 PM on 03/27/2012

Just maybe they are not involved because there actually is an investigation going on. Do you think that could be it? That and that unlike you, it seems, there are no racists involved.

[mrblu54]

03:47 PM on 03/27/2012

No one wants to lose a child for any reason, but whatever reason, does the color of their skin matter? Whatever color, they still KILLED someone, so are people going to march and raise issues about this, or is this death not MEDIA worthy?

[Janet Cooke]

07:20 PM on 03/27/2012

Um, this is the media.

[Catherine Girod]

10:34 PM on 03/27/2012

And it's been in the media since November. Maybe mrblu hasn't been reading much lately.

[ontheman]

04:04 PM on 04/02/2012

Here we are, in the media. What do you mean?

[mrblu54]

03:44 PM on 03/27/2012

Any of your children getting killed is bad, but does it make a difference what color of skin their killer has? Those people still KILLED someone.

[raceteam29]

06:44 PM on 03/27/2012

You are right that anybody getting killed is bad. Skin color only makes a difference to Jesse and Al as that's where they make their press and therefore their money.

[wkingsolomon77]

07:49 PM on 03/27/2012

WOW jesse and Al are in your mind,they got you right where they want you

[mmwwil]

01:10 AM on 03/28/2012

Sounds like you are just like Al and Jessie, always bringing it up. No one else on this page seems concerned by either of the three of you . Or your sick racial comments. Maybe you should just try being an American. You will get some relief from being enslaved by so much racial hatred. It shows.