In Syracuse, New York, a group of five younger students on the Westhill High School lacrosse team felt thrilled when invited by older team members to attend a match against a rival school and have dinner at McDonald’s.

After the game concluded and while heading back home, the car driver seemed to lose his way and stopped. Abruptly, masked attackers appeared from the woods—wielding a gun and a knife—and attempted to kidnap the boys. Four managed to flee, but the masked attackers captured one.

Outmatched 11 to one, the boy had his hands bound and a pillowcase put over his head, as they forced him into the trunk of a car at knifepoint. The kidnappers taunted him en route to another secluded wooded location, where they left him on the ground—alone and terrified for his life.

Still bound and blindfolded, the boy heard the attackers return. He didn’t know if they planned to release him or kill him. Instead, they revealed it was a prank. The attackers were upperclassmen on the lacrosse team staging a hazing ritual. The entire incident was recorded on video.

The next morning, the victim’s family reported the incident to the school, as students circulated the video and rumors of the mock kidnapping sparked a social media firestorm in the community.

A school resource officer reported the incident to the Sheriff’s Office, triggering an investigation.

Joining Nancy Grace today:

Additional Guests

• Shari Foltz – Mother of Stone Foltz, Son Died during a hazing incident at a frat initiation at Bowling Green State University // Founder of I Am Stone Foltz Foundation
• David Bianchi – Trial lawyer at Stewart, Tilghman, Fox, Bianchi & Cain, [recognized as “America’s leading hazing lawyer”], Represented Danny Santulli’s family who was left permanently impaired after fraternity hazing incident at University of Missouri
• Barry Hutchison – Former 26-year law enforcement veteran and detective, now owner & Chief Investigator for Barry & Associates Investigative Services [located in Kansas & Missouri]

“Crime Stories with Nancy Grace” is also a national radio show on SiriusXM channel 111, airing for two hours daily starting at 12 p.m. EST. You can also subscribe and download the daily podcasts at iHeart Podcasts.

[Feature Photo: Pixabay]