7 De La Salle Football Players Charged In Hazing Scandal

WARREN, Mich. (AP) — Seven football players at a prominent all-boys Catholic high school in suburban Detroit will be charged with assault after two alleged hazing victims and witnesses came forward, police said.

Warren police have been investigating football players at De La Salle Collegiate High School for allegedly assaulting other players with broomsticks in October 2019. The school has acknowledged that some form of hazing occurred and abruptly ended the team's season by forfeiting a playoff game last fall.

 

PARKLAND, FL - FEBRUARY 14: Police block a road leading to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School where at least 17 people were killed, on February 14, 2018 in Parkland, Florida. Police arrested the suspect after a short manhunt and have identified him as 19 year old former student Nikolas Cruz. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

 

Prosecutors said last month that they couldn't bring criminal charges due to a lack of admissible evidence, but witnesses and two alleged victims have since spoken to investigators. 

"These are people that came forward after the St. Clair County Prosecutor determined not to write warrants off the original investigation," Warren Police Chief William Dwyer said Thursday. "For whatever reason, they chose not to discuss this with investigators in the beginning but are cooperating now and will testify."

Seven players will be charged next week with assault or aggravated assault, which are misdemeanors that carry up to 93 days in jail and fines. Five of them are 18 and will be charged as adults. Two were 16 at the time of the alleged attack and will be processed as juveniles. 

 

AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 19: Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing at a training session with the Del Valle Cardinals High School Football Team during previews ahead of the United States Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas on October 19, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

 

St. Clair County Prosecutor Michael Wendling did not immediately comment on the upcoming charges. 

The school fired its football coach Mike Giannone in December after the allegations arose. Three students were suspended, but were reinstated last month.\

 

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