Crime & Safety

CSUN Student Dies Hiking, Family Believes It Was Fraternity Hazing

Armando Villa's aunt said he had been hiking without shoes and with little water.

The death of a California State Northridge student who had been hiking in the Angeles National Forest is being investigated by homicide detectives, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department announced today.

Armando Villa, 19, was taking part in a hike organized by the CSUN Phi Kappa Phi fraternity, ABC7 reported.

Villa's aunt, Maria Castaneda, told ABC7 he had been hiking without shoes and with little water.

Find out what's happening in Northridge-Chatsworthwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The hikers had run out of water and Villa had lost consciousness on the trail, off Vogel Flat Road near Big Tujunga Station, around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, sheriff's Deputy Amber Smith said.

The hikers were able to flag down a forest ranger, and Villa was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Smith said.

Find out what's happening in Northridge-Chatsworthwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Homicide detectives believe Villa's death was caused by heat stroke, but were awaiting the coroner's finding, Smith said.

Villa's family told ABC7 they believed he was taking part in an overnight hike in the forest, and was participating in a hazing prank gone wrong.

The fraternity said it was cooperating fully with investigators.

--City News Service


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.