Twelve former members of the famed Florida A&M marching band face charges of manslaughter in the 2011 hazing death of drum major Robert Champion, prosecutors announced on Monday. Twenty-six-year-old Champion died in November 2011 after enduring a post-football-game ritual conducted by other band members on a bus.
Suggested Reading
Two of the defendants are newly charged, and 10 were previously charged with hazing, a third-degree felony, last spring. According to the Orlando Sentinel‘s reporting, it was not immediately clear why State Attorney Jeff Ashton decided to upgrade charges.
Manslaughter, a second-degree felony in Florida, is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Read more at the Orlando Sentinel.
Like The Root on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.
Straight From 
Sign up for our free daily newsletter.