ORLANDO, Fla. — New documents released in the case of a Florida A&M drum major who died after being beaten by fellow band members show that being ritually hazed was what it took to be accepted into the inner circle of the Marching 100's percussionist section.
The affidavits for arrest warrants released Wednesday by the State Attorney's Office in Orlando say that it was common knowledge band members were required to go through hazing in order to earn the respect of other percussionists.
Eleven band members have been charged with felony hazing for Robert Champion's death in November. Two others face misdemeanor charges.
An Orange County detective said in the arrest affidavits for the 13 suspects: "Hazing has been a tradition among the percussion section of the band for some time....it is common knowledge, within the band, a member needed to participate in the hazing process in order to be accepted into the inner circle of the percussion section."
"It doesn't matter that hazing was a tradition, or there was a culture of hazing. It's against the law," said WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer.
Champion had opposed hazing. But he was also vying to be the band's top leader, and friends say he volunteered to be hazed in order to win respect from others.
WFTV
