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Four charged with hazing in connection with VSU drowning investigation

Posted at 3:26 PM, Apr 23, 2013
and last updated 2013-04-23 20:17:54-04

Chesterfield County, Va. (WTKR) – Chesterfield County police have charged four men with hazing in connection to an incident that resulted in the drowning of at least one Virginia State University student.

On April 20 seven VSU students attempted to walk through the Appomattox River to complete their initiation into an organization known as Men of Honor.

The current swept the students down river; some were pulled to safety and others drifted to shore. Two students, 19-year-old Marvell Edmondson, and 19-year-old Jauwan M. Holmes were reported missing.

James A. Mackey Sr., Eriq K. Benson, Cory D. Baytop and Charles E. Zollicoffer II, have each been charged with five counts of hazing in relation to the incident. All are affiliated with Men of Honor. Mackey, Benson and Baytop have been arrested; police continue to search for Zollicoffer.

One body was recovered from the river on Monday and identified as Edmonson's on Tuesday. The search for Holmes' body continues.

Anyone with information about Zollicoffer's whereabouts should contact the Chesterfield County Police Department at 804-748-1251 or Crime Solvers at 804-748-0660 or text the code "WATSON" and send to 274637 (CRIMES).

Related Content:Body of missing VSU student identified; search continues for other student