Rutgers student hospitalized after electrocution at Alpha Sigma Phi house

By Alvin Wu
Domestic Affairs
Rutgers student hospitalized after electrocution at Alpha Sigma Phi house

The former house of the Rutgers chapter of Alpha Sigma Phi on the College Avenue campus on Jan. 17, 2026. ZFJ/Alvin Wu

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Jan. 17 (ZFJ) — Police are investigating an incident in which a Rutgers student has been hospitalized after sustaining serious injuries at a residence in New Brunswick on Oct. 15, 2025.

The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO) said in a statement that Rutgers police responded to a disconnected 911 call at about 12:26 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 15.

Responding officers found an injured and unresponsive 19-year-old Rutgers student. He was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) in critical condition.

MCPO told Patch on Oct. 23 that the Matawan student remained hospitalized but was no longer in critical condition. He had been electrocuted after coming in contact with exposed wires. A second teenager had been electrocuted as well, but was not as seriously injured.

Local media reports and social media posts indicate that the residence in question is the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity house at 106 College Avenue. Students reported online that they saw police cars at the house and fraternity members moving out following the incident.

New Brunswick city officials condemned the frat house on Oct. 18, 2025, according to a notice posted on the building’s front door.

A chapter conduct update from the Rutgers Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs says that university officials issued Alpha Sigma Phi a cease and desist for all activities from Oct. 15, 2025, and organizational disciplinary probation without conditions until May 18, 2026. The office’s website also reports that the fraternity had already been on social probation until Nov. 3, 2025.

The national Alpha Sigma Phi organization announced the closure of the Rutgers chapter on Oct. 24, 2025, and said that all members involved with the incident would be permanently expelled. On Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, the organization said that it would sue its former members for civil damages in connection with the incident.

“The October 2025 hazing incident at Rutgers was a betrayal of our values and the antithesis of brotherhood,” said Gordy Heminger, president and CEO of Alpha Sigma Phi, in a statement. “That’s why we immediately closed the chapter, recommended these students be evicted from the fraternity house and have fully cooperated with both the criminal and university investigations.”

“Alpha Sigma Phi has retained counsel and intends to pursue civil damages against every individual directly or indirectly involved in this heinous act.”

The police investigation is active and ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Richard McNulty of the Rutgers University Police Department at (848) 932-1889 or Detective Javier Morillo of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-8843.

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