Tyler Hilliard, a 20-year-old UC Riverside student, has died in a possible hazing incident. Police are currently investigating.
According to reports, Hilliard was rushed from a fraternity hosted event to the hospital around 9 p.m. on Saturday, September 15. While the fraternity says that they were on a hike and Hilliard collapsed after feeling “short of breath”, text messages on Hilliard’s phone have revealed the fraternity was having it’s “gold paddle day.”
Hilliard, a business major who was pledging the fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha, was headed into his third year at the university.
Hilliard’s family believes that hazing played a major role in Tyler’s death. Police are currently waiting for the results of the autopsy.
via KTLA:
Kimble-Hilliard said the version of events the pledge master gave her after she confronted him in the emergency room doesn’t add up.
“He said that they were about to go for a hike at Mount Rubidoux – they had not started hiking yet – and that Tyler was feeling short of breath,” she said. “Shortly after that he collapsed, and (the pledge master) called 911.”
The family claims Hilliard’s heart stopped seven times over the next few hours before he was pronounced dead.
Texts later uncovered on Hilliard’s phone indicate the Mount Rubidoux trip involved a hazing ritual, according to his cousin Robyn Fountain. She said she discovered messages referring to it as a “gold paddle day.”
Alpha Phi Alpha’s national organization says that the fraternity does not allow pledging or hazing of any kind. The fraternity did not respond to a request for comment from ABC.
UC Riverside issued the following statement about Hilliard’s death:
“The UC Riverside community grieves the loss of our student Tyler Hilliard. We’ve shared our condolences and offer of support with Tyler’s family and have made counseling services available to students, faculty, or staff who knew him. UCR Student Affairs and UCPD are collaborating with the Riverside Police Department to determine the circumstances regarding Tyler’s passing.”
This is just the latest unfortunate student death in the ever-changing fraternity landscape that is trying to grapple with the perils of hazing and alcohol-related incidents.
What Happened?
Tyler Hilliard, UC Riverside student and fraternity pledge, died after a fraternity event. While the fraternity says Hilliard collapsed after a hike, Hilliard’s family believe hazing played a role.
Who Was Tyler Hilliard?
Tyler Hilliard was 20-year-old UC Riverside student who died in a possible hazing incident on Saturday, September 15.
