Four members of a San Diego State fraternity face felony charges stemming from an incident in which one was set on fire, causing third-degree burns that left him in the hospital for weeks, prosecutors said.
It’s the latest chapter in the troubled history of San Diego State University in Greece, where fraternities have a reputation for dangerous alcohol-based bullying. In 2020, a 19-year-old pledge died from head injuries after his blood alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit. Then in 2023, a former student sued the school, claiming he was left in a hospital in an alcoholic coma while taking the oath in 2021.
Now, Kaden Cooper, 22; Lucas Cowling, 20; Christopher Serrano, 20; and Lars Larsen, 19, according to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office ) and Lars Larsen were each charged with at least one felony for planning and performing a skit that involved setting Larsen on fire at a party. Prosecutors said the students then tried to cover up the incident by lying to police, deleting evidence and ordering other fraternity members to stay quiet and delete evidence.
Charges against them include recklessly starting a fire causing serious bodily injury, conspiring to commit an act injurious to the public and violating local law, which makes it illegal to provide an environment where underage drinking could occur. They have pleaded not guilty.
If convicted, the men face sentences ranging from probation to seven years and two months in prison, prosecutors said.
The burning incident was part of a skit at a Kappa Phi Kappa Psi party in February 2024. The fraternity was on probation at the time for violating university policies regarding alcohol abuse, hazing and student health and safety, according to the DA’s office. .
Cooper was the fraternity president, Cowling was a member of the pledge board, and Serrano and Larson were members of the pledge board, prosecutors said.
After drinking, the students performed a pre-planned skit and Larson suffered burns to 16 percent of his body. He then spent several weeks in hospital being treated for third-degree burns, mainly on his legs.
Four fraternity brothers have been released from prison on the condition that they not attend any fraternity gatherings or participate in any fraternity recruiting events. They were arraigned on Monday and will return to court on March 18 for a preparation hearing, prosecutors said.
According to San Diego State University’s website, six of the university’s fraternities were placed on academic probation in 2023 and 2024 for violating school policies, including distributing alcohol without approval. Additionally, since 2020, four fraternities have faced expulsion from campus for repeated violations of school policies, including those related to bullying, alcohol and drugs.
