A 19-year-old UC Berkeley student was shot at least 30 times in the chest and arms with a BB gun last weekend in what officials from the national office of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity are calling an alleged hazing incident.
The victim, whose name police didn't release, was not seriously injured but had enough welts on his arms and chest that a hospital nurse called Berkeley police Saturday to alert officers about the shooting.
While national officials sort out the details, the fraternity's chief executive office Thursday suspended all University of California, Berkeley, chapter activities for up to 60 days while an investigation is conducted.
"Essentially, they are just a boarding house right now," said Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Chief Executive Officer Mark E. Timmes from headquarters in Charlotte, N.C. "They can have their meetings, but nothing in terms of any social activities.
"Our instructions are very clear ... they are to cooperate with us and the local authorities, whether it be the school or the police. At this point, we have a report of an alleged hazing incident," Timmes said.
Hazing — defined as the physical or mental mistreatment of a new member or initiate of a fraternity or sorority — is prohibited by the state of California, the UC system and the National Panhellenic Greek Councils.
There is a no-tolerance policy for hazing at UC Berkeley, and any incidents are handled directly by Student Judicial Affairs, according to a statement on the Cal Greeks Web site.
It was not clear Thursday whether the victim is a member of the fraternity or if he cooperated with the three assailants, police said. Although police have identified three suspects in the case, they haven't made any arrests because the victim does not want to prosecute.
Police said the incident happened between 10:30 and 11:30 p.m. April 8 at the Channing Way fraternity house.
Chapter President Alejandro Ortiz said he believes the shooters used an airsoft gun — containing plastic pellets — but he would not elaborate.
"Guys play around with them in the chapter house all the time," Ortiz said. Shot at close range, airsoft gun pellets — or BB's — can break the skin or chip a tooth, according to associations that sanction the use of the legal guns.
Ortiz had little information about the incident, but said the victim has recovered.
"To my knowledge, he's fine. I saw him on Monday," he said.
Marcia Riley, director of student involvement with the Office of Student Life, which oversees and advises the Greek community, said her office is investigating the incident.
"We have only received preliminary information," Riley said. "We are still trying to gather the information ourselves, but we are certainly concerned about it."
Depending on what an investigation reveals, fraternity members could be fined, suspended or ordered to do community service for participating in hazing.
"There is a range of sanctions on hazing," Riley said, adding that the university can expel a chapter for serious offenses.
That happened to the Pi Kappa Phi chapter at UC Davis a decade ago when an investigation into a rape reported at the Davis fraternity house turned up photos of serious hazing.
Pi Kappa Phi is a philanthropic organization, with 132 chapters nationwide and about 6,000 undergraduate members, officials said. The UC Berkeley chapter was started in 1909.
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