LXA-Murray Suspended After Hit and Run Death
 

Kentucky: Fraternity Suspended After Hit and Run Death



John Knicely,
NewsChannel 6

Sunday, November 13, 2005

A Murray State University fraternity is suspended following a hit and run accident. National representatives from the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity have suspended the MSU chapter.

On Friday Nadia Shaheen's body was found dead near campus. Police say she had been hit by a car.


Lambda Chi Sophomore, Harrison Yonts was charged with 2nd degree manslaughter for Shaheen's death.


The national representatives say all operations at the Murray State chapter are suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.

This one could use a few more details. Like how the fraternity was involved...

:(
how sad

Saturday, November 12, 2005

Legislator's son held in woman's death
Man, 20, charged with manslaughter


From Staff and AP Dispatches


MURRAY, Ky. -- The son of a state lawmaker has been charged with manslaughter in the death of a Murray State University graduate student.

Police arrested 20-year-old Burgess Harrison Yonts yesterday and charged him with second-degree manslaughter in the death of Nadia Shaheen, 63.



Shaheen's body was found in a ditch on Coldwater Road in Murray abut 6:30 a.m. CST yesterday. She died of blunt force trauma to the head. Police said preliminary evidence indicated that she was hit by a car.

Yonts was being held last night at the Calloway County Jail on a $500,000 cash-only bond.

Witnesses said Yonts, a sophomore at Murray State, left a party at Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity early yesterday, the university's student newspaper reported. Yonts is a member of the fraternity.

Yonts' father, Rep. Brent Yonts, a Democrat from Greenville, could not be reached immediately for comment.

The university said Shaheen, a native of Egypt, was to graduate in December in the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages program.

Mark Galloway, an international student adviser, said Shaheen was well-liked among the students.

"She just made a big meal for the students in her class Wednesday," Galloway said. "She cooked for just about everybody."

Officials at the Lambda Chi headquarters in Indianapolis suspended all activity for the campus chapter.

This chapter could have a real problem if, in fact, the suspect did leave a party there, and was DUI or something like it. Their liability probably doesn't end when he walks out the door.

While it's not fail-safe, this is a good reason for third party vendors and off site parties.

I know alumni of the chapter and have family and friends in the area. Apparently there is more to the story than has been reported. Mr. Yonts was allegedly seen at a local bar/restaurant and was already drunk when he left. Allegedly before he got to the chapter house. It is uncertain how long he was even at the house or if he had anything to drink while at there.

FYI: Commonwealth Representative Yonts (Mr. Yonts' Daddy) is also a Lambda Chi Alpha and I believe he initiated at Murray State as well.

For the chapter's sake, I hope you're right. On the other hand, the story says there was a party at the house. In reality, how likely is it that he went there and didn't drink -- even if it was on top of what he reportedly had at the bar?

This is a Tradgic thing that happened.

The Chapter has been suspended considering a total investigation by The College and LXA IHQ.
I am sure that a maybe everything will come out. What seems to make it newsworthy is it is Prominent Politicals son.

From what I know of Murray State Un. it is an outstanding Chapter.

Umm, if the party was kicked perhaps? Or if his brothers cut him off and he left because he was pissed? God, it's not like everyone gets a beer IV stuck in their arm the minute they walk into a fraternity house.

If the house isn't supposed to be dry then this chapter did nothing wrong, and the responsibility is on the bar, or where it should be, on the guy who drove the car.

Yes it is.

This kind of situation has absolutely nothing to do with whether the house is supposed to be dry. If he consumed alcohol (or whatever) there -- whether he did at a bar as well -- there is a very good chance that a jury will find liability.

It won't be the first time.

What I'm hearing, it seems like the truth is somewhere in between these two views. However, at this point, it is nothing but hearsay. About all that is certain is that he was seen drinking (some say 'a lot', others are saying 'a few') at a bar/restaurant earlier and that he attended the party. And if this is true, then at least it seems that the liability should not lie solely with the chapter.

I agree, but with an emphasis on the word "solely."

It would be nice if the liability rested with the person involved, but that's not the way it seems to work anymore.

Unfortunately, that does seem to be the way it goes. That the person(s) involved often do not take responsibility for *their* actions.