A 20-year-old Southern College marching band member collapsed and died throughout a fraternity ritual, in keeping with police.
Caleb Wilson, a trumpeter within the college’s famend Human Jukebox, died final Friday morning after an off-campus occasion at a neighborhood park with members of Omega Psi Phi, in keeping with the Baton Rouge Police Division.
On the occasion, pledges had been made to face in line as a part of an initiation course of when Wilson immediately collapsed, sources informed Fox 8 Dwell. Police haven’t confirmed whether or not hazing was concerned.
Mates rushed Wilson to Baton Rouge Basic Hospital the place he was declared useless at 3:15 p.m., cops mentioned. An post-mortem will decide the reason for demise.
“All that information the detectives will look at, and that will determine where we go,” mentioned Sgt. L’Jean McKneely of the Baton Rouge Police Division.
In response to Wilson’s demise, Southern College officers introduced this week an indefinite pause on all membership actions on campus together with fraternities, sororities and scholar golf equipment.
Wilson, of Kenner, La., was a member of the Human Jukebox, South College’s celebrated marching band, who posted a touching tribute to their late bandmate.
“A talented trumpet player, a dedicated student, and a bright soul, Caleb was a mechanical engineering major who poured his passion into both his studies and his time with the Human Jukebox,” the marching band mentioned. “His energy, spirit, and impact on those around him will never be forgotten.”
The loss has left the close-knit Southern College neighborhood shaken.
“SU is a community where we take pride in bonding together and uplifting one another,” Southern scholar Christian Nunnery informed Fox 8 Dwell. “It’s very unfortunate that this situation happened to one of our family members.”
“Everybody on campus loves the Human Jukebox, even people that don’t come here. I know it will be hard on them,” mentioned one other schoolmate Ma’Tajah Peterson.
Wilson’s demise has even caught the eye of New Orleans Saints Proprietor Gayle Benson, who supplied his condolences to Wilson’s household and particularly his father, a Sergeant with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Workplace exterior of New Orleans.
“Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and the entire Southern University community during this incredibly difficult time,” Benson mentioned. “This tragic loss has hit very close to my heart as his father, Sergeant Corey Wilson, has worked with our team for many years. I have a deep and personal connection to his family.”
That is the second main tragedy to influence the Human Jukebox marching band in simply over two years.
In Dec. 2022, three members of the marching band had been killed when a semi-truck crashed into their automobile as they had been altering a flat tire on the aspect of a Louisiana freeway.
