EMU investigating possible student involvement in coney island fight
Security camera video footage of the Jan. 11 fight at Luca's Coney Island.
Courtesy of the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office
Eastern Michigan University is investigating possible student involvement in a coney island fight that led the restaurant to alter its hours, officials confirmed.
The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office said some of the individuals involved in the fight are believed to be EMU fraternity and sorority members.
"It appears that some of the people involved in this incident were fraternity and sorority members at EMU," said Sgt. Geoff Fox. "This is based on clothing being worn that night and witness statements."
Jan. 11, a fight broke out at Luca's 24-hour Coney Island restaurant at 2469 Washtenaw Ave. in Ypsilanti Township between two groups of people. One customer pulled out a gun and put it to the back of another customer's head and shoved it in the face of a waitress as well.
University spokesman Geoff Larcom said the university is aware of the incident and video and the sheriff's department is handling the criminal case.
"The university is investigating the incident to determine the level of involvement of our students," Larcom said. "The individual charged by the sheriff's department thus far is not an EMU student."
A week after the fight, sheriff's deputies arrested 32-year-old Ronjour Jacobs of Ann Arbor on felonious assault charges.
Another man who pulled out a gun during the fight has not yet been identified, but police are still investigating, said Derrick Jackson, director of community engagement for the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office.
Monday morning, WorldStarHipHop, an urban video sharing site, reposted the video of the incident that was initially on AnnArbor.com's site.
The video was posted by a user of the site that alleged EMU fraternity and sorority members were involved in the fight.
Tuesday morning, the site removed the video description alleging student involvement. The video has received more than 663,000 views.
Luca's Coney Island in Ypsilanti Township.
Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com
The video has been posted on various social media sites by EMU students claiming to know the individuals as classmates and members of the organizations.
The university has yet to confirm student involvement, but Larcom said the Student Conduct and Community Standards office is looking into the manner.
If student involvement is confirmed, the university has the right to pursue disciplinary action, according to the Student Conduct Code.
The university has jurisdiction over misconduct that occurs on university premises and at university-sponsored activities. However, the university can address off-campus behavior if it "impairs, obstructs, interferes with or adversely affects the mission, processes or functions of the university."
The university can pursue disciplinary action against a student at the same time the student is facing criminal charges for the same offense, according to the handbook, even if the criminal prosecution is pending, has been dismissed or the charges have been reduced.
Disciplinary actions could include verbal warnings up to permanent dismissal or revocation of a degree.
If a fraternity or sorority is found to have been involved in an incident violating the code of conduct, the organization could face a range of penalties such as probation, suspension and permanent termination of university status.
The university could not provide information regarding whether any fraternities or sororities have been banned from campus before. Fraternities and sororities can also face action from their state chapters and national offices.
Whether the university plans to ask the website to remove the video remains to be seen. Larcom said a few years ago, another video was posted on a similar site, alleging EMU student involvement in a fight at an off-campus event. In that instance, Larcom said the allegations were false and the university had the video removed from the site.
"There were openly false assertions," Larcom said. "...In this case, (there are) just too many questions to be answered at this point."
Katrease Stafford covers Ypsilanti for AnnArbor.com.Reach her at katreasestafford@annarbor.com or 734-623-2548 and follow her on twitter.
Comments
2sweet
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 6:59 p.m.
for those who are commenting you would of had to be there to fully understand what happen prior to what happen. at the end of the day these people are normal people and sometimes things get get out of hand and at the heat of the moment things can get ugly. i know some of them and they are great people. yes it was unnecessary for the gun to be pulled out, that was unnecessary. you see fights happen all the time, you don't know what these people are going through after all this happening. they all understand that what happen was wrong and they do regret what happen.
MD from ChiTown
Mon, Mar 4, 2013 : 2:10 p.m.
They're probably already on double secret probation.
Sean Thomas
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 5:30 p.m.
Luca's is disgusting. Just came here to say that. Nobody go there lol.
snoopjane
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 2:08 p.m.
Thugs! don't care if they are EMU students or not!... Thugs.... don't know why a place needs to be open 24 hours. Just asking for drunk, crazy people!
roadsidedinerlover
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 1:49 p.m.
Wasn't this restaurant the scene of other problems last year and were they not asked to curtail their 24 hour status? I would think the owners would not want this bad publicity for their business. I won't be going there ever!
Tru2Blu76
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 10:17 a.m.
I didn't know Adam Lanza had his own fraternity. It's clear from the video that some of these people need to be in a video game withdrawal program. Perhaps "Point your gun at people in restaurants" is just part of the fraternity initiation ceremony.
GetYoLife
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 1:09 a.m.
These folks with Sorority ad Fraternity letters are members of Pi Delta of Zeta Phi Beta at EMU. The man with GOMAB on his jacket is an alumni of EMU and a member of phi beta Sigma. The women are the Fall '12 new members of Pi Delta and their Dean Vicki. Anyone in their right mind can identify these people. It is not that hard to figure out. Get serious EMU!! These members need to loose their letters and the chapter needs to be banned from EMU. This behavior is absolutely unacceptable.
MathGeek
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 4:24 a.m.
GetYoLife, I'm sure Jesus Hernandez jhernande@emich.edu would love for you to email him with the identity of those individuals. Or, if you'd like to remain completely anonymous, call the office and ask to speak with him over the phone. (734) 487-2157. Tell him MathGeek sent you, he'll be confused. I would agree with you 100%, they should lose their letters, it is a disgrace to their chapter and their national. But, that's not possible if people are able to be identified.
Nichole Birk
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 11:34 p.m.
And people think we still need mass guns and gun rights? How about earning the right, and not just giving it away :D
John of Saline
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 5:07 p.m.
I think it's a safe bet the brandisher is not a holder of a concealed-weapon permit. If he is, he'll lose it rather fast.
cinnabar7071
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 1:10 a.m.
You don't earn rights, that's why they're called rights. But they can be taken away if you prove you're not responsible.
treetowncartel
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 11:14 p.m.
Funny, they had her outwomaned 5-1 and when she was able to finally get oriented and back up and defend herself against the other women one of their boos had to brandish his weapon. That being said, it really is becoming a land of two Americas, those with basic values, and those without.
treetowncartel
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 5:46 p.m.
@Bonsai, just pointing out the inequatie in the situation in the video and using a venacular to make my point. Not condoning anyones behavior, and I am lover not a fighter. I strive to belong to the former, not the later, and do the best to instill those values in my children. I also try to keep them from judging someone based on limited interaction with that person. Enjoy the day mate!
Bonsai
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 2:34 p.m.
re-read your first statement, then tell me which America you belong to
MathGeek
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 10:46 p.m.
It should be noted, Student Judicial Services is not an office on campus. Student Conduct and Community Standards (formerly SJS) is the office that adjudicates these types of issues. As you can see in the name, EMU expects students to be responsible members of the community, whether on campus, or at the Coney Island.
Katrease Stafford
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 1:49 p.m.
Thanks, MathGeek. I've updated that.
An Arborigine
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 10:28 p.m.
Just 'cause someone said "no Coke, Petsi!"?
Jay Thomas
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 10:23 p.m.
I am going to use this video as an example in my class on primitive cultures.
Ann English
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 12:05 a.m.
Primitive, tribal behavior: thinking you're good just by virtue of the fact you're in a certain group. In this case, in a fraternity or sorority.
Homeland Conspiracy
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 9:39 p.m.
Future leaders
Indymama
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 11:24 p.m.
That's scarry!!
Silly Sally
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 9:21 p.m.
"...Revocation of a degree."? Does this mean that President Bill Clinton could lose his law degree for committing perjury while president and lying about Monica?
Jay Thomas
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 10:25 p.m.
No, Sally. He lost his ability to practice law over that whole mess. But he is still a degreed individual. ;)
UncleMao
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 9:32 p.m.
Cutting edge and timely sense of humor.
amazonwarrior
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 9:03 p.m.
Totally disgusting behavior. Hope all those responsible are identified, charged and prosecuted to fullest extent of the law. And if they are EMU students, they deserve to be expelled IMMEDIATELY.
tom swift jr.
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 8:44 p.m.
Were those "Hurons" or "Eagles"?
MathGeek
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 10:47 p.m.
And Wolverines.
UncleMao
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 9:29 p.m.
Eagles
cinnabar7071
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 8:29 p.m.
Good thing the guys kept their shirts on, who knows what kind of trouble that would have got them into.
Youwhine
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 8:18 p.m.
Well it certainly appears as though the gunman (as well as many others) are wearing clothing with their fraternity/sorority letters on them. If these organizations have any integrity at all, they will assist the police in identifying those incolved and remove the bad apples from their groups. But I am not holding my breath.
28's..andtheydon'trub
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 8:13 p.m.
Lol so back to Denny's like old times?