Community Rallies for Georgia Teen Hospitalized After Alleged Hazing Incident

Community members rallied in Brunswick, Georgia, on Monday, March 27, in support of a teenager who was hospitalized in critical condition after two separate incidents in which he was allegedly hazed.

Trenton Lehrkamp, 19, was dropped off by three minors at Southeast Georgia Health System’s emergency room on Tuesday, March 21, the Glynn County Police Department said. Lehrkamp was unconscious, highly intoxicated on a mixture of alcohol and controlled substances, and had spray paint on his body, police said. The three minors left before police arrived, and Lehrkamp was placed in intensive care.

Footage and images of the incidents circulated on social media, police said. Police said they subsequently executed a search warrant on a home in St. Simons Island and retrieved evidence. Police said they interviewed Lehrkamp on Sunday after he regained consciousness.

In an update on Wednesday, police said they had “identified all subjects in social media posts and pictures that have been provided related to these incidents.” Police cautioned that misinformation about the story had spread on social media, including “the misidentification of several uninvolved persons and families,” and that this posed problems for the investigation.

Police urged people to speak up if they witnessed a similar incident. “In our society we should all have a zero tolerance for bullying and the mistreatment of others,” police said. “This incident may not have been brought to our attention if Trenton didn’t end up in the hospital.”

This footage, captured by Melissa Spearman, shows community members rallying in support of Lehrkamp at Southeast Georgia Health System on Monday. Credit: Melissa Spearman via Storyful