UNLV, fraternity suspend chapter after fatal boxing event

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The fraternity that organized a charity boxing match where a University of Nevada, Las Vegas student competitor collapsed and later died of head injuries has been suspended both by the school and its national organization pending the outcome of investigations.

Kappa Sigma executive Mitchell Wilson said the international office began a review Monday of "whether Kappa Sigma’s internal policies and standards of conduct were followed” by the UNLV chapter.

"Kappa Sigma Fraternity expects all of our chapters to conform with all applicable state and local laws," Wilson said in a statement Thursday.

UNLV President Keith Whitfield issued his order late Wednesday for the school’s oldest fraternity to “cease all operations and activities."

“Its status as a registered student organization is revoked pending the outcome of an investigation by the university and its Office of Student Conduct,” Whitfield said.

Nathan Tyler Valencia, a 20-year-old junior from Las Vegas, died Nov. 23, four days after he collapsed at the boxing event at an off-campus venue in Las Vegas.

Attorneys Ryan Zimmer and Nick Lasso, representing Valencia’s parents, called suspending the fraternity “a step in the right direction” and said the family is cooperating with investigators. Valencia's mother has said her son had no previous boxing experience.

Zimmer and Lasso have said witnesses told them there were no paramedics or medical personnel at the venue and that the man who served as referee of Valencia’s fight was recorded on video drinking from a beer can.

The Clark County coroner ruled his death from head trauma a homicide. Las Vegas police cleared the venue of wrongdoing and called Valencia’s death tragic, but said it was not a criminal act and no charges would be filed.

The Nevada...