Four members of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity at San Diego State University have been charged with felonies related to a party incident that occurred on February 17. During a skit at the party, a pledge, Larsen, was set on fire, resulting in third-degree burns covering more than 16% of his body.
The four individuals, Caden Cooper, Lucas Cowling, Christopher Serrano, and Larsen himself, each face a range of felony charges, including recklessly causing a fire with great bodily injury, conspiracy to commit an act injurious to the public, and violating the social host ordinance.
According to prosecutors, Serrano and Cowling had planned the skit in which Larsen was set on fire. After the incident, the three men lied to law enforcement, deleted evidence, and told other fraternity members to do the same. Larsen spent weeks in the hospital receiving treatment for his burns.
If convicted, the defendants could face up to seven years in prison. The four have each pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The incident has led to a review of the fraternity’s behavior, which is already under scrutiny. In recent years, several San Diego State University fraternities have faced investigations and have been put on probation. In 2020, a university investigation was conducted after allegations emerged that a frat leader had promoted blackout drinking.
The four charged were either active members or pledges of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, with Cooper serving as the president and Cowling serving on the Pledge Board.
