Members of a high school lacrosse team in upstate New York are facing serious charges after staging a frightening armed abduction of younger players. This incident, described by prosecutors as going far beyond typical hazing, has shocked the community.
The Onondaga District Attorney’s office announced this week that all 11 individuals involved have turned themselves in and received appearance tickets for future court dates. District Attorney William Fitzpatrick had previously warned that those who did not come forward would face more severe felony kidnapping charges.
According to Fitzpatrick, the incident began when older players invited younger teammates to watch a game and then to a McDonald’s. However, things took a dark turn when one player was tied up, blindfolded, and placed in the trunk of a car. The group had planned a ruse that involved pretending to get lost while driving younger players to a remote area, where others waited in the woods, armed with at least one knife and a fake gun.
At least five younger players were targeted in this shocking prank, but some managed to escape. The one who did not was left believing he would be abandoned. Though he was not physically harmed, Fitzpatrick noted that the emotional impact of the experience could be long-lasting.
"This is not just a prank; it’s criminal behavior," Fitzpatrick stated. He expressed concern about the potential consequences if law enforcement had arrived at the scene, where a child was being treated as if he were being kidnapped.
The incident was recorded on video, which helped authorities identify the 11 participants, some of whom are 18 years old. Fitzpatrick indicated that it appears most, if not all, of those involved are members of the boys’ lacrosse team. In response to the situation, the superintendent of Westhill School District, Steve Dunham, has canceled the remainder of the varsity team’s season.
Dunham emphasized that the safety and well-being of students is the district’s top priority and that any behavior harming others will be dealt with swiftly according to the school’s Code of Conduct. The community is now left grappling with the implications of this troubling event.