Monthly Archives: December 2011

Robert Champion’s death ruled a homicide

Leave a reply

By Turner Cowles, News 20 at 5 Correspondent

ORLANDO—Former drum major Robert Champion’s autopsy report was released just minutes ago by the District Nine Medical Examiner’s Office.
The manner of death listed on the report stands on a line of its own: Homicide.
The cause of death is listed as “hemorrhagic shock due to soft tissue hemorrhage due to blunt force trauma sustained during a hazing incident.”
In plain English, he was beaten to death.
“Mr. Robert Champion, a previously healthy 26-year-old member of the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University marching band, collapsed and died within an hour of a hazing incident during which he suffered multiple blunt trauma blows to his body,” said the report.
The autopsy showed extensive bruising on his chest, arms, shoulder and back.
During the weekend of Champion’s death, his father said he had no previous health concerns. The autopsy reveals he had a slightly enlarged heart.
The toxicology for Champion showed no signs of drugs or alcohol in his system at the time of death.
No charges have been filed yet.

View the autopsy report in its entirety here.

FAMU Students protest at Governor’s Mansion

Leave a reply


TALLAHASSEE—FAMU students gathered on campus late this evening in an unorganized, spur-of-the-moment rally. They decided they would march in protest Gov. Rick Scott’s call for FAMU President James Ammons’s suspension.
Students marched from Lee Hall to the Governor’s Mansion in Frenchtown. The Tallahassee Police Department scrambled to secure a path for the students to use. Officers blocked main roads, including Tennessee Street at Adams Street, while students marched.
Students arrived at the mansion just as extra law enforcement personnel did. Two black Ford Explorers pulled into the private drive while students swarmed the park out front.
Student body president, Breyon Love, said over 3,000 students were there although the number appeared to be closer to 800.
Around 10 p.m., students arrived at the mansion. They began chanting, hoping to wake the governor. If they did not wake the governor, his chief of staff, Steve MacNamara, did.
MacNamara came out to the protesters and, through the fence, talked to a few organizers.
“He just got back from Israel,” said MacNamara. “They woke him up, and I’ve asked him to come down.”
MacNamara took a few people with him to the private steps of the mansion—Student Body President Love and former trustee Reverend R.B. Holmes, a Bethel Baptist Church pastor.
Scott greeted the men at the door, then walked out the path in a gray 2003 Super Bowl sweatshirt and gray sweatpants.
Love told Scott, via bullhorn, he wanted the recommendation for Ammons’s suspension be rescinded.
“We are not going to leave,” said Love, “until you rescind your recommendation. We are not going to leave.”
Scott did not take back what he said, telling the students about a conversation he had with Ammons earlier.
“I said to [Ammons], ‘you want to make sure everyone knows that there is no question that you want a full and thorough investigation,’” said Scott.
Despite repeated attempts to change his mind, Scott did not rescind his recommendation. In closing, Love told him students planned to stay on the lawn all night.
Some students brought study materials and were finishing study guides. Some students posed for photos on the lighted lawn ornaments.
About 30 minutes later, Scott asked to see Love and Holmes again in the foyer of the mansion. There is no word yet what they spoke about.

Champion 911 call released

Leave a reply

911 Operator: What is your emergency?

Caller: We are at the uh, we are at the hotel—the Rosen Plaza on “I” Drive and one of our drum majors can’t breathe. He’s throwing up.

911 Operator: Ok go ahead and stay on the phone, I’m gonna put you on with the paramedics, alright? You said you’re at the Rosen Plaza on International Drive, correct?

Caller: Yeah, we at the—we’re on the bus.

911 Operator: Stay on the phone;

Caller: They’re on the bus

911 Operator: Hang on one second, I’m gonna put you on with paramedics.

Caller: Yeah, we’re on the bus. He’s throwing up.

911 Operator: Ok, do not hang up.

—Dial tone—

Fire Rescue: Fire & Rescue?

Caller: We are at Rosen Plaza on “I” drive and one of our drum majors is on the bus and not breathing.

Fire Rescue: What is the address.

Caller: I don’t know the address… I really don’t know. We are with the Florida A&M University.

Fire Rescue: Can you ask somebody there for the address? Because that’s what I need.

911 Operator: Hang on one second, I’ve got 9700 “I” drive

Fire Rescue: Ok you said you’re on a bus?

Caller: Yeah, we’re on a bus. We were just… we’re still on a bus. Huh?

Fire Rescue: You’re at the Rosen Plaza?

Caller: Yes we are. We’re at the Rosen Plaza

Fire Rescue: You’re sitting in front of it on a bus?

Caller: No we’re… we’re, we’re sitting outside. We’re sitting on the bus! He can’t…

Fire Rescue: You’re at the Rosen Plaza?

Caller: Yeah

FIRE RESCUE: Ok is he breathing or is he not breathing?

CALLER: We don’t know if he’s breathing or not, but we need an ambulance ASAP.

FIRE RESCUE: Ambulance is on their way already.

CALLER: We’re… we’re in the back of the hotel.

FIRE RESCUE: Indistinguishable

Caller: Huh? Huh? 911? Huh? He’s throwing up… He’s throwing up.

FIRE RESCUE: Indistinguishable

CALLER: Huh? Huh? I can’t hear you.

FIRE RESCUE: Ok, are you with him right now?

CALLER: Huh?

FIRE RESCUE: Are you with the person right now?

CALLER: Well I’m outside the bus so I can hear you.

FIRE RESCUE: Ok, so he’s inside the bus?

CALLER: Uh, yes, he’s inside the bus.

FIRE RESCUE: Ok, how old is he?

CALLER: He is 25.

FIRE RESCUE: Ok, is he awake?

CALLER: uh, uh, he is not even—uh, he was responding a little bit, he wasn’t responding. We thought he was breathing ’cause he was making noises, but I don’t even know if he’s breathing now.

FIRE RESCUE: OK, is he awake?

CALLER: His eyes are open. His eyes are open… He’s not responding

FIRE RESCUE: Ok, but is he breathing?

CALLER: I have no idea. I cannot tell you that.  He just threw up.

FIRE RESCUE: He just threw up?

CALLER: Yes

FIRE RESCUE: Ok, well like I said I do already to have help on the way. Was he like shaking or anything like that?

CALLER: No he wasn’t. He wasn’t shaking. I don’t even know how it… how he was. He was just sitting there talking, and the next thing you know he was… he was uh shaking and not doing anything.

FIRE RESCUE: OK he was shaking or he wasn’t shaking?

CALLER: No, no, he wasn’t shaking. He just—he wasn’t moving. I don’t know what’s going on.

FIRE RESCUE: Ok, can you get back on the bus? And I want you to see if he’s breathing because that’s very important.

CALLER: OK….

Background: Hey, Dr. White’s outside.

CALLER: Is he breathing?

Background: See if they got a AED in there, and automatic defribilator.

CALLER: Hey, we uh, indistinguishable

CALLER: Hello?

FIRE RESCUE: Hi, I need to know what’s going on

CALLER: Ma’am, we have a band member on the bus right here, and he is not breathing. We’re at the Rosen Plaza.

FIRE RESCUE: Ok, I know. Are you with him right now?

CALLER: Yes, I’m with him ma’am. He’s not breathing. I tried to give him CPR and he started to vomit.

FIRE RESCUE: Ok, well I want you to lay him on the floor; is he on the floor?

CALLER: Yes ma’am he’s on the floor.

FIRE RESCUE: Ok, is there anything under him?

CALLER: No, no ma’am. There’s nothing under him.

FIRE RESCUE: Ok, is there an AED available?

CALLER: I just sent somebody in to try to get one. He’s inside the hotel.

FIRE RESCUE: Ok, like I told them already, we do have help on the way. You’re in the back of the hotel on a bus, correct?

CALLER: Yes ma’am.

FIRE RESCUE: Ok and you’re right by him now.

CALLER: I’m… I’m… He’s in my hands ma’am. He’s cold. He’s in my hands.

FIRE RESCUE: Ok well I want you to lay him flat on his back and remove anything from under his head, ok?

CALLER: Ok, I’m gonna try. He’s heavy.

FIRE RESCUE: Ok, I understand just try to do your best, ok?

CALLER: Alright.

FIRE RESCUE: Let me know when he’s flat on his back.

CALLER: I’m tryin… I have to put the phone down real quick, hold on.

FIRE RESCUE: Ok, that’s fine. Just pick it back up.

CALLER: I gotta try to get him on his back, flat.

Indistinguishable.

FIRE RESCUE: Are you talking to me or somebody else?

CALLER: Hello?

FIRE RESCUE: Hi, did you lay him on his back?

CALLER: Excuse me?

FIRE RESCUE: Is he flat on his back?

New Caller: Yeah, we’re trying to get him, uhh, on his back now.

Indistinguishable.

CALLER: Alright he’s flat. He’s flat on his back.

FIRE RESCUE: Ok, then I want you to kneel down next to him, and I want you to look in his mouth for food or vomit.

CALLER: yes, there’s vomit.

FIRE RESCUE: There is vomit in his mouth?

CALLER: Yes

FIRE RESCUE: ok, well then I want you to turn his head to the side, and I want you to clean out his mouth and his throat

Indistinguishable.

Call ends

FIRE RESCUE: Hello? Sir? Dispatch are you still on the phone?

911 Operator: Yeah we are, I’ve got a deputy en route as well.

FIRE RESCUE: OK thanks, yeah I think we’re pulling up to it. I’ll try to call him back though