Warning: This article contains graphic details of kidnapping which some readers may find distressing.
An alleged “hazing ritual” involving high school lacrosse players forcing younger team members into a car at knifepoint has led to kidnapping charges for several team members.
Student athletes from Westhill High School, located in Syracuse, central New York, stand accused of kidnapping and intimidating five students aiming to join the team, in what has been described as an extreme form of hazing.
The reported incidents occurred after a lacrosse game, where senior team members deceived the prospective players into thinking they were headed to McDonald’s for a meal.
Instead, the driver feigned getting lost and stopped in an isolated location, where masked older team members appeared.
According to Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, the suspects wore black clothing and were armed with at least one knife and a gun, though it remains uncertain if the gun was real. The DA indicated no intention to press charges for weapon possession.
Some alleged victims managed to escape, but one student was reportedly singled out by his “teammates.”
The accused allegedly tied him up, placed a pillowcase over his head, and forced him into the car’s trunk.
On Tuesday (April 29), the DA mentioned having viewed a video of the incident, during which the student “thought he was going to be abandoned in the middle of nowhere,” noting that the suspects seemed to find the victims’ fear amusing.
“This is criminal activity, and this is hazing on steroids,” Fitzpatrick stated.
“I have seen the videotape of what happened to this young man. It is not a rite of passage. It is not a trivial matter.
“I don’t know how long this young man will be affected by what happened to him. Frankly, I find it incomprehensible that in this day and age somebody could have thought that they would have gotten away with something like this.”
The victims were eventually returned home uninjured, though Fitzpatrick warned of possible lasting psychological trauma.
Eleven involved individuals, all minors, have surrendered to authorities.
Fitzpatrick remarked, “I cannot really adequately express to this community the level of stupidity and lack of judgment involved in this case.”
Lisa O’Reilly, President of the Westhill Central School District’s board of education, issued this statement to CBS News: “We are aware of the District Attorney’s statement and are continuing to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation.
“At this time, the District has no additional information to share. While the investigation is ongoing, we remain committed to the values of student safety, dignity, and accountability.
“We remain in close contact with law enforcement and remain focused on supporting our students and ensuring the safety and well-being of our school community.”