An 18-year-old Cal State Fullerton student died after being left at a hospital emergency room following a fraternity gathering where alcohol played a role, police said.
Anthony Joseph Blas was dropped at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton shortly after midnight Saturday and pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Fullerton Police Department. Investigators determined he had been attending an event at an unaffiliated fraternity before his death.
“Alcohol consumption appears to have been a contributing factor in the male’s death,” police stated in their announcement. The exact circumstances of how Blas came to be transported to the hospital remain under investigation.
Police emphasized that hazing was not a factor in the incident and noted there is no evidence of foul play. An investigation is ongoing as authorities work to piece together the events leading to the student’s death.
The fraternity involved is not formally affiliated with Cal State Fullerton, according to investigators. University officials have not yet issued a statement regarding the incident or potential disciplinary measures.
The death marks another in a string of recent fraternity-related incidents at colleges across multiple states, including hospitalizations, hazing arrests, and a near-drowning at an off-campus pool party. Earlier this year, a Northern Arizona University student died following a Delta Tau Delta rush event, while Ohio State suspended a fraternity after a student was hospitalized.
California has seen its own pattern of serious fraternity incidents. In one recent case, three fraternity members were arrested after an 18-year-old was found dead in an alleged hazing incident. Separately, a pledge suffered severe burns after being set on fire during a supposed “skit” at a fraternity party, according to state officials. A Florida Atlantic University student has also filed suit claiming permanent injury from hazing.
The Fullerton Police Department continues its investigation into Blas’s death, with no charges announced as of Sunday.