Rider University Student Dies After Binge Drinking

(CBS 3) LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. A Rider University freshman died Friday after excessive drinking at a fraternity house on the university's campus, a hospital spokesman said.

Gary Devercelly, 18, of Long Beach, Calif. died at about 10:50 a.m. at Capital Health System's Fuld Campus in Trenton, said Don MacNeill, a hospital spokesman. Devercelly had been in critical condition at the hospital.

Investigators are trying to determine if the incident was part of a fraternity hazing process.

18-year-old Gary Devercelly of Long Beach, Calif., was reportedly taken off life support at Helen Fuld Hospital in Trenton Friday. Family members flew in from California late Thursday night to be by his side.



He was brought to the hospital in critical condition after a night of drinking at an on-campus fraternity house early Thursday morning.

Sources tell CBS 3 Devercelly, a new member of Phi Kappa Tau, allegedly consumed an excessive amount of alcohol during a hazing incident at the fraternity.

"At about 1:30 this morning, I got a phone call that some students were involved with drinking an extraordinary amount," Dean of Students Anthony Campbell said.

College officials said a second "very intoxicated" freshman student was also rushed to the hospital to receive emergency room care, but was later released.

When asked if it was part of a hazing incident, Campbell replied, "at this point, I'm not aware of that that’s part of the investigation we have with LPD (Lawrenceville Police Department)."

"At this point, we know that they were new members of this fraternity," he said.

Police sources said Devercelly may have consumed a half-bottle of Vodka.

Students and members of the close knit Mercer County community gathered for a prayer vigil at a campus chapel Thursday evening.

Rider University is not a dry campus and students 21 years of age and older can drink in their dorm if no one under the age of 21 is present.

"If we find there is any violation of our social code of conduct, they will be held fully accountable to us and to the national fraternity and to all the laws of the state," Campbell said.

Around 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, detectives armed with a search warrant searched the dorm looking for evidence for the person who supplied the alcohol.

Police are questioning students present at the time of the alleged incident. The investigation is ongoing.

"This is a tragedy, we feel deep sorrow and it redoubles our commitment to our sense of community," said Mordechai Rozanski, Rider Univ. President.

A memorial is planned for Devercelly on the campus at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.

--> Pa que luego digais que exageramos cuando decimos que los americanos están como cabras...