[TSteven]

MTSU frat prank probed
By Erin Edgemon
DNJ Staff Writer

MTSU frat prank probed

Yellow caution tape surrounds the blackened Maltese cross positioned in front of the Sigma Chi fraternity house on the MTSU campus, which was damaged in an early morning prank.

The Murfreesboro Fire Department and MTSU Police are currently investigating an incident where someone poured gasoline on the fraternity's concrete symbol and lit it on fire at approximately 3 a.m. Tuesday, said Inspector Carl Peas of the Murfreesboro Fire Department.

The fire damaged the cross' paint, the sidewalk and the spotlight that illuminated the cross, he said.

"We have one witness who saw an individual running away from the building," Peas said. "We are developing suspects at this time."

The inspector could not say if the possible suspects were MTSU students.

Sigma Chi President Brett Smith said most of the residents of the house were not at home when the incident occurred.

"I am leaving it up to the officials to take care of," Smith said.

The fraternity president said he did not know why someone would have set fire to the cross.

"It was probably a prank that was not a good idea," Smith said. "It was a pretty extreme prank."

MTSU Police refused to release any information because the case is under investigation.

Originally published December 30, 2004
Copyright ©2004 The Daily News Journal.