BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) - The Latest on the investigation into the death of a Penn State University student after a fall down stairs at a fraternity (all times local):
1:15 p.m.
Penn State University’s president is calling a grand jury report into the death of a student after an alcohol-fueled fraternity event heart-wrenching, sickening and incomprehensible.
President Eric Barron says details in a grand jury report issued on Friday as prosecutors filed involuntary manslaughter and other charges against fraternity member showed Timothy Piazza endured hours of suffering before his death in early February.
Barron says it’s “numbing” to see that a dangerous atmosphere could occur at a fraternity that prided itself on commitment to each other and the community.
The school has permanently banned the fraternity, Beta Theta Pi, after looking into events around the death of Piazza, a 19-year-old engineering student from Lebanon, New Jersey.
The grand jury report says Piazza suffered a series of falls during and after a pledge acceptance ceremony and was forced to run a “gauntlet” of drinking stations.
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12:35 p.m.
Authorities say a student who died during alcohol-fueled pledge night at a now-shuttered Penn State fraternity suffered a series of falls and was forced to run a “gauntlet” of drinking stations.
The new details were revealed Friday after authorities announced charges against 18 members of Beta Theta Pi and the fraternity itself over the death of 19-year-old sophomore Timothy Piazza, of Lebanon, New Jersey.
Prosecutors say Piazza fell down a long set of steps on Feb. 2, and fell several other times, injuring his head. They say the next morning he fell down the same steps a second time and was unconscious when help was finally summoned.
Piazza died at a hospital two days later, on Feb. 4.
A grand jury says the pledges were pressured to run a “gauntlet” of drinking stations that required them to chug vodka, shotgun beers and drink wine.
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11:15 a.m.
The father of a Penn State student who died after falling down a flight of steps during an alcohol-fueled fraternity pledge night is calling the loss “a senseless and very preventable tragedy.”
Jim Piazza made the comments at a news conference Friday after charges against Beta Theta Pi and 18 frat brothers were announced by the Centre County district attorney. They range from involuntary manslaughter to furnishing alcohol to minors and evidence tampering.
Nineteen-year-old sophomore Timothy Piazza of Lebanon, New Jersey, fell down stairs at the frat Feb. 2.
Authorities say help wasn’t called for 12 hours, and Piazza died at a hospital two days later.
Jim Piazza says his son’s death was the “result of a feeling of entitlement and flagrant disregard” of the law.
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10:45 a.m.
Eighteen members of a now-shuttered Penn State University fraternity and the fraternity itself are facing charges in the death of a student who fell down a flight of steps during an alcohol-fueled pledge night.
The charges against Beta Theta Pi and the frat brothers range from involuntary manslaughter to furnishing alcohol to minors and evidence tampering.
They were announced Friday by the Centre County district attorney.
Nineteen-year-old sophomore Timothy Piazza of Lebanon, New Jersey, fell down stairs at the frat Feb. 2.
Authorities say help wasn’t called for 12 hours, and Piazza died at a hospital two days later.
Some of the students are scheduled to surrender Friday and to be arraigned.
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12:30 a.m.
Prosecutors in Pennsylvania are set to announce the results of a grand jury investigation into the death of a Penn State student who fell down steps during an alcohol-fueled pledge ceremony.
Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller plans to disclose details on Friday morning about events surrounding the Feb. 4 death of pledge Timothy Piazza, of Lebanon, New Jersey.
A court filing by prosecutors last week says charges are likely against several people for “conduct surrounding the death of another person.”
Police have said hazing and excessive drinking at the Beta Theta Pi chapter house may have contributed to the death of the 19-year-old sophomore engineering student.
Authorities say help wasn’t called for 12 hours, and Piazza died two days after the fall.
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