Columbus police are investigating the viral video of students on fire as potential hazing after the students were injured, according to police records obtained by The Dispatch on Nov. 10.
Ohio State University placed the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity on suspension while the college investigates an incident in which two individuals were apparently set on fire on Nov. 7.
In a statement to The Dispatch, part of the USA TODAY Network, Ohio State spokesperson Ben Johnson said the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity had been placed on interim suspension pending a full investigation after a video circulated on social media showing people on fire at a party. OSU said it had referred the incident to Columbus and Ohio State University police.
Columbus police
told The Dispatch they were investigating the incident alongside the Columbus fire department arson investigation team.
OSU fire incident investigated as potential hazing
The charges under investigation are for hazing, according to the Columbus police report filed on Nov. 9. The report also notes that the OSU division of public safety was also investigating the incident for hazing.
Records show that police were informed that students had participated in an activity that was dangerous and resulted in second- and third-degree burns. On the evening of Nov. 8, a person identifying as an OSU student called Columbus police to report what she said was a possible hazing incident, according to audio of the call.
"They set their pledges on fire and there is a video of it," the caller said. "They stood around watching while this kid just burned. They put gasoline on him and lit him on fire, and then just kind of stood there and laughed."
The 911 operator asked to clarify whether they actually set someone on fire. The caller did not know the people in the video but had received it in a group chat.
Police responded to the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house on Indianola Avenue on Nov. 8 around 9:30 p.m., records show. The police report also states that police had taken a statement from the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity president.
The report lists both victims' injuries as moderate and that they were treated. Personal information about the victims is redacted.
In 2021, Ohio passed "Collin's Law," which increased the legal penalties for hazing in Ohio. The law made Ohio the 11th U.S. state to make hazing a felony.
The law is named in honor of Collin Wiant, an 18-year-old freshman who died at Ohio University during a hazing ritual in 2018.
What the video shows
GRAPHIC VIDEO WARNING: See video of alleged incident of students on fire
The video begins with a man in gray sweatpants and a hoodie already on fire. Another person is trying to use a fire extinguisher on the man.
The man on fire gets up and lunges at another man in what appears to be an identical outfit, catching the other person on fire as he tackles him. People, including the person filming, begin cheering and shouting.
The two people who are on fire begin trying to put out the fires engulfing their bodies while the person with the extinguisher once again attempts to use it. The fire extinguisher is knocked out of his hands by one of the victims who is jumping around.
The victims begin running around while on fire, as bystanders begin to get involved to try and smother the flames and beat at the flames with clothing. Bystanders also start telling the victims to drop on the ground and roll.
The two victims drop to the ground and rip off their clothing while bystanders beat at the flames.
By the time the video ends, one of the victims appears to have mostly removed his flaming clothing while the other appears to still be on fire as bystanders continue to try and assist.
A second video circulating on social media apparently shows the incident from a second angle.
Dispatch reporter Sheridan Evans contributed to this report.
Cole Behrens covers K-12 education and school districts in central Ohio. Have a tip? Contact Cole at cbehrens@dispatch.com or connect with him on X at @Colebehr_report
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Viral Ohio State frat video triggers hazing investigation
