Four members of a San Diego State fraternity are facing felony charges after one of them, a pledge, was set on fire, leaving him with third-degree burns and hospitalized for weeks, prosecutors said. .
This is the latest chapter in the troubled history of Greek life at SDSU, where the fraternity has developed a reputation for dangerous, alcohol-fueled hazing. In 2020, 19-year-old Pledge died after hitting his head while his blood alcohol level was almost three times the legal limit. Then, in 2023, a former student sued the school for leaving him in an alcohol-induced coma in the hospital while he pledged in 2021.
Now, Kayden Cooper, 22 years old. Lucas Cowling, 20 years old. Christopher Serrano, 20 years old. The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office said Lars Larsen and 19 other suspects were each charged with at least one felony count for planning and carrying out a skit in which Larsen was set on fire at a party. Prosecutors said the students then tried to cover up the incident by lying to police, deleting evidence and ordering other fraternity members to remain silent and delete evidence.
Charges brought against them include recklessly starting a fire resulting in serious bodily injury, conspiracy to commit acts harmful to the public, and unlawfully providing an environment in which underage drinking may occur. This includes violations of local laws. They all pleaded not guilty.
According to prosecutors, if the men are convicted as charged, they could be sentenced to anything from suspended sentences to seven years and two months in prison.
The arson took place in February 2024 as part of a skit for the Kappa Pi Kappa Psi Party. At the time, the fraternity was on probation for violating university policies regarding alcohol, hazing and student health and safety, according to the DA’s office and police. School disciplinary letter.
Prosecutors said Mr. Cooper was the fraternity president, Mr. Cowling was a member of the pledge committee, and Mr. Serrano and Mr. Larsen were pledgers.
After drinking alcohol, the students performed a pre-planned skit that left Ms. Larsen with burns on 16 percent of her body. He was then hospitalized for several weeks to be treated for third-degree burns, mainly on his legs.
The four fraternity brothers were released from prison on the condition that they not go to fraternity parties or participate in fraternity recruitment events. They will be arraigned Monday and reappear in court for a preliminary hearing on March 18, prosecutors said.
Six fraternities at SDSU were placed on probation in 2023 and 2024 for violations of school rules, including unauthorized distribution of alcohol, according to the university’s website. Additionally, since 2020, four fraternities have faced expulsion from campus for repeated violations of school policies, including those related to hazing, alcohol, and drugs.
