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8 out of 11 arrested in FAMU hazing death

Update 4:37 pm:  FDLE says it has an eighth person in custody.

Aaron Golson, B/M, DOB, 6/20/92, Gadsden County Jail

Update 2:40 pm:  Seven out of the 11 people facing felony hazing charges in the death of FAMU Marching 100 Band Drum Major Robert Champion have been taken into custody.

Of the remaining four, three are out-of-state.

FDLE Spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger says the agency has been in contact with the suspects and their attorneys. If the remaining three out-of-state don't turn themselves in, Plessinger says the agency will contact local law enforcement.

In all 13 people are facing charges ranging from felonies to misdemeanors.

 

Defendants who have turned themselves in

Jessie Baskin, B/M, DOB 10/27/91, Miami-Dade County Jail, bonded out

Harold Finley, B/M, DOB 4/8/92, Palm Beach County Jail

Bryan Jones, B/M, DOB 10/27/88, Hillsborough County Jail, bonded out

Benjamin McNamee, B/M, DOB 12/14/90, Miami-Dade County Jail, bonded out

*Shawn Turner, B/M, DOB 4/22/86, Gadsden County Jail, bonded out

 

From yesterday

Caleb Jackson, B/M, DOB 09/10/88, Leon County Jail

*Rikki Wills, B.M, DOB 04/03/88, Leon County Jail, bonded out.

 

*Both Wills and Turner served as Drum Majors last fall alongside Robert Champion. FAMU moved to dismiss the two from the university at the time, but was told to hold off on the dismissals pending the outcome of the case.

 

 

Breaking: Three people are now in custody in the hazing case of Florida A&M University band drum major Robert Champion. Lynn Hatter reports Champion died after being beaten in a hazing ritual aboard a bus in Orlando.

Almost six months after Champion died, charges have been filed against 13 people in connection with his death. The charges range from misdemeanors to felonies. Shortly after the charges were released Tuesday, law enforcement officials around the state began making arrests. Two band members, 23-year-old Caleb Jackson and 24-year-old Rikki Wills were arrested in Tallahassee Wednesday.

And a third, Bryan Jones, turned himself in Wednesday night in Hillsborough County. He was released after posting a $15,000 bond.

A Leon County judge has refused to release Jackson on bail because he is currently on probation for battery.

Wills, also a drum major within the Marching 100 band, was allowed to post bail.

Follow @HatterLynn

Lynn Hatter is a Florida A&M University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Lynn has served as reporter/producer for WFSU since 2007 with education and health care issues as her key coverage areas.  She is an award-winning member of the Capital Press Corps and has participated in the NPR Kaiser Health News Reporting Partnership and NPR Education Initiative. 

Find complete bio, contact info, and more stories here.