DA's Ultimatum: 11 High Schoolers Face Kidnapping Charges for Extreme Lacrosse Hazing

Extreme Hazing Incident

• 🚨 A District Attorney has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to 11 Westhill High School students accused of extreme hazing.
• ⚠️ The DA states the incident "goes way beyond hazing" and could result in felony kidnapping charges if students do not surrender.
• 🏈 The remainder of the Westhill High School boys lacrosse season has been cancelled to address the program's culture.

Details of the Incident

• 👤 One victim was lured to a remote area, blindfolded with a pillowcase, tied up, and placed in a car trunk by individuals dressed in black and armed with a handgun and knife.
• 🚗 The victim was eventually returned home, having experienced significant fear and believing he would be abandoned.
• 📹 A videotape of the incident exists, which the DA described as "not a right of passage" and "not a trivial matter."

DA's Approach and Legal Ramifications

• ⚖️ The Onondaga County District Attorney, William Fitzpatrick, is offering a courtesy for the students to surrender, facing charges of unlawful imprisonment (a misdemeanor) initially.
• 🚀 If they do not surrender, they risk being arrested and prosecuted as adults for the felony of kidnapping.
• 👨‍⚖️ The DA emphasized that the decision to prosecute is removed from the victims and their parents, ensuring the case proceeds normally.

Discussion and Perspectives

• 🤔 Some viewers may perceive the DA's offer as "heavy-handed," but the DA argues it's a courtesy not typically extended in such serious cases.
• 🗣️ The host questions the DA's dual messaging of seriousness and leniency, suggesting a more consistent approach is needed.
• 🤷‍♂️ The possibility of peer pressure and a pervasive hazing culture within the team is discussed as a potential factor for the students' actions and parents' decisions.
• 💡 A reminder is given about the emergency trunk release tabs inside car trunks, though their effectiveness is questioned if a victim is tied up and blindfolded.