UPDATED: February 24, 2016, 5:06 PM ET
The death of SUNY student Bradley D’Oyley was not connected to a hazing ritual, police say. The Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office revealed there were no signs of foul play in the 21-year-old’s autopsy. A toxicology report is expected in the next few months.
Family attorney John V. Elmore told reporters it was too soon to rule out hazing.
The Buffalo News reports:
“If that is the conclusion of police, they have come up with it much too early. I’ve only been involved in this case since Saturday, and from what students have said, I felt it was necessary to hire a retired FBI agent to investigate and follow up on the death,” Elmore said.
One of D’Oyley’s associates says the student had health issues, but didn’t disclose any information. His family has planned a funeral for March 13 in New York.
Bradley D’Oyley’s high school basketball coach is demanding justice for his former player, says the New York Daily News.
The Buffalo State College student, 21, died Thursday of a suspicious illness, and now the police are investigating whether his death is linked to an Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity hazing ritual.
“If these allegations are true, I feel strongly that these kids should stand trial. They took away a life,” D’Oyley’s former coach, Michael Myers, told the Daily News.
According to the newspaper, D’Oyley’s family and friends believe someone made him consume a lethal drink while pledging with the fraternity.
News 4 reports that the alleged incident happened off campus on Jan. 10, but went unreported until early February. School officials suspended the fraternity.
Katherine Conway-Turner, the school’s president, released this statement after D’Oyley’s death, according to News 4:
“Buffalo State takes great pride in its commitment to providing students with a civil and caring academic community. We do not and will not tolerate any student or campus organization that undermines our commitment to providing an environment for our students to flourish.”
In a statement via News 4, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. said it “prohibits” hazing, adding:
“Any member found violating the fraternity anti-hazing policy will be immediately suspended with a recommendation for expulsion. In addition, the fraternity will cooperate with law enforcement to ensure that any person found to be violating the law will be brought to justice.”
D’Oyley was a member of the college’s basketball team and a business major. The Daily News says his Brooklyn high school will launch a college scholarship fund in his name.
SOURCE: New York Daily News, News 4 | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty | VIDEO CREDIT: Inform
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