Bond conditions set for man accused in hazing death of SU student Caleb Wilson

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — One of the men accused of being connected to the hazing death of Southern University student Caleb Wilson appeared in court on Thursday morning.

A judge set new bond conditions for Caleb McCray, 23, during the hearing.

His new bond conditions state that he must have a phone tracker instead of an ankle monitor and is not allowed to contact anyone involved in the case. In addition, he cannot possess any guns.

An attorney for McCray stated that his client wants to leave the City of Baton Rouge to stay with family members for his mental health as the trial approaches.

McCray was released from prison on a $100,000 bond in March 2025.

McCray’s bond will be placed on an automatic hold if he violates any of the conditions. His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 13.

Police arrested McCray on charges of manslaughter and criminal hazing in connection with Wilson’s death. 

What happened to Caleb Wilson?

Wilson was a 20-year-old junior studying mechanical engineering at Southern and a member of The Human Jukebox Marching Band.

He died after what police called an unsanctioned off-campus fraternity pledging ritual where pledges were punched in the chest with boxing gloves.

Wilson was pledging Omega Psi Phi at a warehouse with at least 15 to 20 people when he collapsed after being punched.

According to an arrest warrant, Wilson was initially reported to have collapsed while playing basketball at BREC’s North Sherwood Forest Community Park before being dropped off at Baton Rouge General Medical Center by a group of men. However, Baton Rouge police later determined that this was not accurate and that the incident actually took place at a warehouse on Woodcrest Drive.

After Wilson collapsed, police said no one at the warehouse sought medical attention or called 911 for help. Wilson was later placed in a vehicle and taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

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