4 Teens in Hospitals After Alleged Fraternity Hazing

Four teenagers were hospitalized -- two in intensive care -- after being hit hundreds of times with a plastic paddle as part of a university hazing ritual, Monterey Park police said Friday.

Lt. Chris Keller said the students are 18 and 19 years old and appear to be fraternity members at Cal State L.A. Three of them were hospitalized at San Gabriel Valley Medical Center in San Gabriel and the fourth was at Beverly Hospital in Montebello.

The students suffered internal injuries including kidney failure from the paddlings, but were expected to recover, Keller said.

Keller said there was not much information about the incident because the young men were not cooperating with investigators. It was unclear where the fraternity-related beatings took place and which house was involved, he said.

“They don’t want to tell us anything,” Keller said. “They’re protecting each other.”

Police officials at Cal State L.A. could not be reached for comment.

Keller said doctors have said they thought the teenagers would recover. “Nobody is going to die,” he said.