Four suspects arrested in rape and death of LSU sorority member.
Four male suspects have been arrested in connection with the rape and death of Madison Brooks, a 19-year-old Louisiana State University student. Brooks had been drinking at a bar near the LSU campus when she met a 17-year-old suspect and left with him and three other suspects. According to an arrest warrant, Carver, one of the suspects, told police that he witnessed Brooks and the 17-year-old hugging and walking together. Carver said he asked for her address, but she was unable to answer him, so he drove a short distance and pulled over. Carver then said he overheard the 17-year-old asking Brooks five times if she wanted to have sex with him, to which she gave verbal consent.
Washington, another suspect, admitted to police that he laughed while he walked behind her earlier and thought “How y’all meet a random girl and just bring her home?” Police also found that Brooks had a blood-alcohol content of 0.319%, nearly four times the legal limit. Washington and the 17-year-old were charged with third-degree rape, while Lee and Carver were charged with principle to third-degree rape.
Ron Haley, an attorney for two of the suspects, told WAFB that this was “absolutely not a rape” and that a video taken during the incident shows Brooks was coherent. He also said that the men did not leave Brooks on the side of the road. Brooks was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority and they released a statement saying she was “a bubbly, loving, and selfless friend” who “left an indelible mark on our chapter”. LSU president William Tate called Brooks “an amazing young woman with limitless potential” and said that “what happened to her was evil”.
The tragic death of Madison Brooks has shocked the LSU community and beyond. Four male suspects have been arrested and charged with rape-related crimes. Carver told police that he witnessed Brooks and the 17-year-old hugging and walking together and that he heard the 17-year-old asking Brooks five times if she wanted to have sex with him. Washington admitted to police that he laughed while he walked behind her earlier. The suspects’ attorney claims that the video taken during the incident shows Brooks was coherent and that the men did not leave her on the side of the road.
Brooks was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority and they released a statement saying she was “a bubbly, loving, and selfless friend” who “left an indelible mark on our chapter”. LSU president William Tate called Brooks “an amazing young woman with limitless potential” and said that “what happened to her was evil”. Tate also noted that three of the suspects are underage, “yet were able to consume alcohol at a local bar” and said that the university will be focusing on any establishments that profit off students by providing alcohol to underage individuals.
The tragedy of Madison Brooks’ death has spurred the LSU community and beyond to take action. The suspects have been arrested and charged with rape-related crimes. Police found that Brooks had a blood-alcohol content of 0.319%, nearly four times the legal limit, and the suspects’ attorney claims that the video taken during the incident shows Brooks was coherent. The Alpha Phi sorority released a statement expressing their grief and LSU president William Tate has called for action to be taken against any establishments that provide alcohol to underage individuals.
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