What started as a so-called prank has now shut down an entire high school lacrosse season and could land more than a dozen students in court.
In Syracuse, New York, Westhill High School has canceled the remainder of its varsity boys’ lacrosse season following a disturbing off-campus incident involving at least 11 students and five younger teammates. Authorities say this was no harmless rite of passage.
Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick isn’t calling it hazing. “This goes way beyond hazing,” he said in a Tuesday press conference. He described one victim’s experience as being lured with the promise of McDonald’s, only to be taken to a remote location where masked individuals, dressed in black and armed with what looked like a gun and a knife, ambushed him. They threw a pillowcase over his head, tied him up, and locked him in the trunk of a car before abandoning him in the woods.
District Presses Reset After “Criminal” Act
Superintendent Stephen Dunham announced the decision to cancel the season, saying the school needed to “address the culture of the program” with a complete reset. He clarified that most players weren’t involved, but the nature of the incident demanded a full response. “Hazing is an indefensible act,” Dunham said in a message to the community. “It can be humiliating and degrading, potentially causing physical and emotional harm.”
Fitzpatrick offered a 48-hour window for the 11 students allegedly involved to turn themselves in. If they cooperate, they could face misdemeanor charges of unlawful imprisonment and avoid a felony record. If they don’t, Fitzpatrick warned, the charges could rise to second-degree kidnapping. “You’ll be prosecuted as an adult,” he said, adding that his team could easily win cases with clear video evidence.
The sheriff’s office recovered a video showing the ambush. Fitzpatrick said, “You can hear that some of the individuals found it amusing.” He also made clear that the choice to press charges no longer rests with the victims or their parents. “This case will be prosecuted,” he said.
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Dunham acknowledged the storm of rumors and speculation circulating online but urged patience. “The time needed to conduct a thorough and accurate investigation… hopefully doesn’t get misconstrued as the district doing nothing,” he said.
The incident shocked the Westhill community and reignited concerns over the culture of hazing in youth sports. Now, with a canceled season and looming legal consequences, the team’s future remains uncertain.
Also Read: Ontario Lacrosse Association Playoff Game Turns Into Massive & Chaotic Brawl
