Police Raid West Virginia University Frat Houses Amid Hazing Probe
Officers were seen carrying bags of evidence from the Lambda Chi Alpha and Pi Kappa Alpha houses.
West Virginia University Police executed search warrants on two fraternity houses Monday as part of an ongoing hazing investigation. Officers raided the Lambda Chi Alpha and Pi Kappa Alpha residences in Morgantown, with police video showing officers carrying multiple bags of potential evidence from the properties. The university stated that it takes student safety seriously.
Details regarding the contents of the seized bags or the specific nature of the allegations have not been released. University police indicated that further information would be provided as the investigation progresses, and no arrests or charges have been announced at this time.
The raids occurred in front of hundreds of students who gathered to watch the police activity. Morgantown Police Chief Eric Powell confirmed that his department provided support to the university police during the operation.
West Virginia University had previously issued a campus-wide warning on October 6, following anonymous reports of hazing. Three days later, on October 9, the university placed the Lambda Chi Alpha chapter on interim suspension. This suspension prohibits the chapter from holding social events, recruiting new members, or running existing member programs while the allegations are investigated.
In contrast, the Pi Kappa Alpha chapter remains a registered fraternity with the university's Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and is not currently under an interim suspension. The university's website reiterates a zero-tolerance policy for hazing and other activities that endanger student well-being.
Hazing is explicitly prohibited by WVU's Campus Student Code, with violations applying to both individuals and recognized organizations. The code defines hazing to include practices such as assaults, branding, and forced consumption of substances.
This investigation comes amid a broader national context of increased scrutiny on Greek life. Recent incidents at other universities include a drug ring broken up at a Penn State fraternity house in August and allegations of gang rape against seven fraternity members at Cornell University in early October. According to a HazingInfo report, at least 556 hazing incidents were reported nationwide between July 2025 and August 2026, with approximately one in six U.S. colleges and universities reporting at least one such incident.