The public release of the frantic 911 call made to save drum major Robert D. Champion’s life has renewed questions about his cause of death.
On November 22, Orange County Sheriff Jerry L. Demings said the “investigation indicates that ‘hazing’ was involved in the events that occurred prior to the 9-1-1 call for assistance.” He added that a preliminary autopsy was “inconclusive as to the cause of death and Orange County Medical Examiner Dr. [Jan Carla] Garavaglia indicated additional tests are required before a final report can be issued.”
CNN reporter David Mattingly asked Champion’s mother and father if the emergency room doctors observed and told them about any injuries on their son’s body.
“When I talked to his parents they did confirm that they talked to the doctors who were fighting to save their son’s life that night,” Mattingly said on Anderson Cooper 360. “I asked them: ‘What did the doctors tell you?’ Did they see any signs of any injuries or anything that might have contributed to his death? But on the advice of their attorney, they wouldn’t answer that question.”
FAMU recently made the decision to expel four students “in connection to the Robert Champion incident.” But the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Department of Law Enforcement have yet to publicly report any arrests.
Once again, this shows how it important it is for the public to avoid rushing to judgment. The full picture of what actually happened on that tragic night is not clear.