The death of a Filipino American student has been ruled a homicide, but the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department says no criminal charges will be filed, People reports.
Nathan Valencia, 20, died a few days short of his 21st birthday after fighting in a charity boxing match organized by a fraternity at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
The coroner ruled he died of blunt force trauma to the head.
“Although Mr. Valencia’s death is tragic, the circumstances surrounding his death are not criminal, and no charges will be filed,” the police department said to NBC News.
“Our hearts go out to the Valencia family and loved ones,” said Stephan J. Cloobeck, the commission’s chairman to CBS News. “This is unnecessary and shouldn’t have happened.”
A family attorney says organizers did not arrange to have medical personnel at the event and that the referee had been drinking before the matches.
“Our preliminary investigation reveals mistakes were made and safety precautions overlooked,”the family said in a statement. “We will be completing a full investigation to determine how UNLV and the Kappa Sigma Fraternity could allow and promote an event like this to take place. College students should not be placed in a situation where they are pitted against each other for combat.”
The Kappa Sigma fraternity chapter has now been suspended by UNLV, Fox5 reported.
No campus activities will be allowed pending a full investigation.
“Our hearts ache for Mr. Valencia’s family, friends, and loved ones,” said UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield. “We take our responsibility to review this tragic incident and the events leading up to it very seriously, and we are doing so both thoroughly and fairly to ensure something like this never happens again.”
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