Authorities: Southern Student Caleb Wilson Died in Warehouse Hazing, Fraternity Lied About Park Collapse

New details have emerged in the tragic death of Southern University student Caleb Wilson, with sources revealing to WAFB that the initial story given to police was fabricated.

According to sources with direct knowledge of the investigation, Wilson, 20, did not collapse at a Baton Rouge BREC park, as originally reported. Instead, pledges with Omega Psi Phi were allegedly participating in an unsanctioned fraternity ritual inside a Baton Rouge warehouse when Wilson was punched in the chest and collapsed.

Wilson, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering and a member of the Human Jukebox band, was reportedly one of nine pledges in a line, each forced to take blows to the chest as part of the initiation process. When Wilson was struck, he collapsed to the ground and began having a seizure, sources said.

Wilson was taken to Baton Rouge General Hospital on Bluebonnet, where he was pronounced dead. Following his death, fraternity members allegedly met at an undisclosed location and created the false narrative that he collapsed at a park. Sources confirmed that none of the students involved were ever at the park.

The hospital alerted authorities, launching an investigation by the Baton Rouge Police Department. While an initial autopsy did not reveal a cause of death, further testing is underway.

In response, Southern University issued a statement expressing deep sorrow over Wilson’s death and reaffirming its stance against hazing. The university has launched an internal investigation and has placed a ban on membership intake for all student organizations until further notice.

“Hazing is a violation of the University’s rules and regulations as well as Louisiana law, and it will not be tolerated in any form at Southern University,” the statement read. “We support punishment to the fullest extent of the law for anyone committing an act of violence that impedes a student from safely and successfully matriculating at Southern.”

Southern University confirmed that it is actively cooperating with the Baton Rouge Police Department and the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney’s Office as they investigate the hazing allegations involving the Beta Sigma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.