WVU Police served search warrants at two fraternity houses in Morgantown on Monday night, escalating an investigation into alleged hazing that has already led to one chapter's suspension. Officers executed the warrants at the Lambda Chi Alpha house on North High Street and the Pi Kappa Alpha house on Belmar Avenue as part of what the university describes as an ongoing criminal inquiry.
The search warrants were served Monday night as part of the ongoing hazing investigation, according to thedaonline.com. CBS Pittsburgh reported that WVU Police said officers were serving the warrants in connection with an investigation into ongoing alleged hazing, and that Morgantown Police Chief Eric Powell said his department's officers were providing support to university police during the operation.
Per WV MetroNews, the warrants targeted both the Lambda Chi Alpha house on North High Street and the Pi Kappa Alpha house on Belmar Avenue. The outlet also reported that university officials said no other details would be released at this time due to the nature of the investigations.
A Case Building Since Early October
The search warrants did not come out of nowhere. WVU Police first issued a campus warning on Oct. 6 about multiple anonymous reports of alleged hazing involving at least two on-campus fraternity sites, according to WVU Today. Three days later, on Oct. 9, Lambda Chi Alpha was placed on interim suspension following multiple anonymous reports of alleged hazing, the same outlet reported.
That suspension carries real restrictions. Chapter members are prohibited from participating in, attending or organizing social functions as a chapter, or hosting or co-hosting social activities at another location, according to WVU Today. Recruitment and new-member programming have also been halted, and the fraternity has been barred from university-sponsored programming while the case proceeds.
The suspension will remain in effect until the allegations are addressed through a formal hearing or other disposition, per the same WVU Today account, which also noted Lambda Chi Alpha has five days to request review and reconsideration of the sanctions.
Pi Kappa Alpha Also Under Scrutiny
Lambda Chi Alpha is not the only chapter facing questions. WVU's crime log lists a hazing report at the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house on Belmar Avenue in Morgantown at about 10:41 p.m. Friday, and the incident remains listed as active, according to WV News. The same report described WVU Police as investigating multiple anonymous reports of alleged hazing involving at least two on-campus fraternity locations.
CBS Pittsburgh, citing Daily Athenaeum video, reported that students were seen gathering outside Lambda Chi Alpha during the search and that law enforcement officials were seen leaving the house with what appeared to be bags of evidence. WVU Police said updates would be provided when available, according to that CBS Pittsburgh report authored by digital producer Mike Darnay.
How WVU Says It Handles Hazing Complaints
University policy calls for a dual-track response to hazing complaints. All reported hazing incidents are responded to quickly, investigated fully, and also referred to the WVU Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities for review, WVU Today reported, meaning any criminal case runs alongside a separate student-conduct process.
WVU began collecting hazing statistics in 2025 and will include the statistics in the 2026 and subsequent Annual Security Reports, according to WVU Police. Under West Virginia law, a person convicted of causing hazing may face a fine of $100 to $1,000, up to nine months in jail, or both, per the same WVU Police disclosure page.
No charges have been announced against any individual, and officials have not detailed what investigators were searching for or what, if anything, was recovered. University officials have said only that due to the nature of the investigations, no other details will be released at this time, as reported by WV MetroNews, leaving the scope and outcome of the probe unresolved for now.
