A Florida A&M University drum major whose death revealed a culture of hazing within the school’s famed marching band died from shock caused by internal bleeding after suffering blunt force trauma, officials said Friday.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott has requested the suspension of James Ammons amid an investigation into various issues at Florida A&M University — including the death of Robert Champion Jr. Florida A&M student and drum major Robert Champion Jr. died last month after a suspected hazing incident. Champion’s death has been ruled a homicide.
Champion died November 19, 2011 caused by “hemorrhagic shock” — the result of excessive internal bleeding from “soft tissue hemorrhage, caused by blunt force trauma sustained during a hazing incident.” He died in Orlando, where the Florida A&M marching band had been performing.
Three male band members were arrested last month after the beating of a female band member who suffered a fractured leg.
Florida A&M or FAMU, is a historically black university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States, the state capital, and is one of eleven member institutions of the State University System of Florida.
The FAMU Marching “100” was named the “Best Marching Band in the Nation” by Sports Illustrated (August 1992). The FAMU Marching 100 has performed at Super Bowls, the Grammys and presidential inaugurations.