Police have arrested eight people on misdemeanor charges in connection with the death of a Virginia Commonwealth University student earlier this year.
Three other people are expected to turn themselves in on charges related to the death of Adam Oakes, according to a news release from the Richmond Police Department. The 19-year-old was found dead at an off-campus residence Feb. 27 after going to a party to begin his initiation into the Delta Chi fraternity, his parents said.
In May, the Richmond Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Oakes’ cause of death as ethanol toxicity, or alcohol poisoning, according to the police department.
Seven of the eight people—all ages 19 to 22—were taken into custody Friday by the Virginia Commonwealth University Police, RPD said in the news release Friday. All eight were charged with misdemeanor unlawful hazing, and three were also charged with misdemeanor buying or giving alcohol to a minor, Richmond police said.
Seven taken into custody by VCU Police are being held without bond at the Richmond Justice Center and are scheduled to appear in court Monday morning, according to online records from the Richmond City Sheriff’s Office.
The eighth person arrested Friday by Virginia State Police in Prince William County was released on bond, Richmond police said, and upcoming court information was not immediately available Sunday.
Three others have been indicted on charges related to Oakes’ death and are expected to turn themselves in “within the coming days,” Richmond police said.
“When we got the first call that people were being arrested, I cried,” Oakes’ cousin Courtney White told CNN affiliate WWBT on Friday.
“It was like that first glimmer of hope in seven months,” White added.
Virginia Commonwealth University suspended the Delta Chi chapter following Oakes’ death, and in June, the school announced the fraternity was permanently banned.
VCU also launched a review of all campus Greek life, and in August announced that Greek organizations would not be allowed to bring on new members during the 2021-22 school year. Alcohol is also banned at all official student organization functions involving undergraduate students, the school announced last month.
The CNN Wire contributed to this report.
