Eleven high school lacrosse players in Syracuse, N.Y., made headlines this week after turning themselves in to authorities in connection to a disturbing hazing incident involving younger teammates. The district attorney, William J. Fitzpatrick, described the incident as “hazing on steroids” and gave the players 48 hours to surrender and hand over a gun that was reportedly used in the incident.
According to Mr. Fitzpatrick, a group of older players from the Westhill High School boys’ varsity lacrosse team took several younger players to a remote area after a dinner at a fast-food restaurant. The older players staged a fake scenario where a driver pretended to be lost, while another group emerged from the woods dressed in dark clothing and armed with a handgun and a knife. One victim was blindfolded, tied up, and placed in the trunk of a car before being taken to another location. Fortunately, some victims managed to escape, but the trauma inflicted on them was significant.
Video footage of the incident showed some of the older players finding the situation amusing, further emphasizing the serious nature of the hazing. Mr. Fitzpatrick emphasized that this behavior is not a rite of passage or a trivial matter, but a criminal act that will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
The names and ages of the players involved have not been released, but Mr. Fitzpatrick indicated that some of them are believed to be at least 18 years old. The players were issued appearance tickets in family court or criminal court, depending on their ages, and were released to the custody of their parents.
In response to the incident, Westhill High School canceled the remaining nine games of the lacrosse team’s season. Superintendent Steve Dunham stated that while the majority of the players were not involved in the hazing and were unaware of the plans, addressing the culture of the program was paramount. He acknowledged that canceling the season could be seen as a punishment for those players, but emphasized the need for a reset to address the larger issue at hand.
Hazing is strictly prohibited in the Westhill school district, and district officials are working closely with law enforcement to address the situation. The community is reeling from the shocking revelations, and there is a collective effort to ensure that such behavior is not tolerated in the future.
