The parents of deceased FAMU drum major Robert Champion still refuse to believe that their son voluntarily submitted to the hazing ritual that took his life.
Today, prosecutors released thousands of pages of evidence and hours of interrogation tapes.
Numerous eyewitnesses say that Champion consented to be hazed aboard a parked Fabulous Coach Lines bus in Orlando on Nov. 19. A medical examiner’s report stated that Champion died from the injuries he suffered during the incident.
Robert and Pam Champion still don’t believe that their son gave his consent to be hazed.
“My son wouldn’t have went along just to get along with that,” Champion’s father told CBS 46 Atlanta. “He didn’t believe in any type of violence.”
Jonathan Boyce, the head drum major during Fall 2011, said that Champion had requested his permission to go through the “Crossing Bus C” ritual the entire marching season.
“It's a respect thing, you know,” Boyce told investigators. “Well, he was wanting to do it all ... all season.”
Boyce explained that he declined to grant Champion the go-ahead to complete the ritual until after the last performance of the year because he was afraid Champion might be injured so seriously that he wouldn’t be able to march.
According to an Orange County Sheriff’s Office report, Boyce and fellow drum major Shawn Turner said that they tried to help Champion make it through the hazing gauntlet on Bus C and touch the end of the vehicle (which would satisfy the objective of the process).
“Shawn Turner and Jonathan Boyce were helping Robert Champion, pulling his right arm while others were pulling in the opposite direction trying to pull him away from the rear of the bus,” Detective David A. Phelan wrote. “Shawn Turner and Jonathan Boyce pulled as hard as they could and snatched Robert Champion away from the crowd. Once Robert Champion touched the rear of the bus, everything was over. Robert Champion said he was tired and asked for some water as he sat at the rear of the bus and the beating had ceased.”