In a disturbing case that has shaken the Syracuse, New York community, 11 members of Westhill High School's varsity boys' lacrosse team are facing criminal charges following a severe hazing incident involving younger teammates.

According to Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, the accused upperclassmen orchestrated a mock kidnapping on April 24. The upperclassmen allegedly told at least five underclassmen that they were going to get McDonald's to lure the younger kids to come with them. Instead, the younger students were driven to a secluded area in Onondaga County, where masked individuals, supposedly armed with what appeared to be a handgun and a knife, emerged from the woods. One victim was reportedly tied up, had a pillowcase placed over his head, and was confined in the trunk of a car before being abandoned in the woods. The other victims managed to escape the scene.

Fitzpatrick condemned the act as "hazing on steroids," highlighting the potential dangers had law enforcement encountered the scene, possibly mistaking it for a real abduction. He warned that such actions could have led to fatal consequences. "I could imagine a deputy coming upon a scene, seeing a kid with a hood over his head being abducted at gunpoint by a series of individuals all dressed in black and masked. If that individual opened fire, you know, would that be outside the realm of possibility? I think the opposite would be true,” said Fitzpatrick.

The district attorney gave the involved students 48 hours to surrender and face misdemeanor charges of unlawful imprisonment. Failure to comply would result in felony kidnapping charges, carrying sentences of up to 25 years. All 11 students turned themselves in within 24 hours.

The incident has prompted Westhill School Superintendent Stephen Dunham to cancel the remainder of the varsity lacrosse season. Dunham expressed deep concern over the event, stating that it goes beyond typical hazing and reflects a serious lapse in judgment and responsibility. While the victims did not sustain physical injuries, authorities have emphasized the potential for lasting emotional trauma.

The case has sparked a broader conversation about hazing practices and the responsibilities of student-athletes, coaches, and school administrators in preventing such incidents. As the legal proceedings continue, the community deals with the event's implications, seeking to address the underlying issues that allowed such behavior to occur.