A US Secret Service agent and two other men have been arrested in connection with a hazing incident in Miami that left two victims with severe injuries, according to Florida state investigators.
Arrests and charges
Marquez Christopher Pinder, 29, a Secret Service agent, was arrested on Sunday, along with Jared Lamar James, 26, and Elijah Delano Dyous, 29. The three face multiple felony charges, including hazing with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with great bodily harm, and attempted manslaughter.
The arrests came after an investigation into alleged hazing incidents that involved "prolonged and repeated beatings with canes and paddles," according to the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office.
The hazing ritual
The beatings reportedly took place over four days in April, starting on April 1 at an apartment in the Sweetwater district near Florida International University. The victims included a University of Miami graduate student and another young man. They were allegedly being initiated into the Miami chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, a historically Black fraternity where Pinder served as a "dean of pledges."
Court documents state that the beatings occurred after the victims failed to answer questions correctly. The hazing continued for two more days at the same location before moving to another residence for a fourth day.
Severe injuries
On the fourth night, the beatings stopped when one victim had blood seeping through his pants. Fraternity leaders ordered the victims to remove their clothes and place them in garbage bags. The injuries were so severe that one victim required skin grafts to his backside and suffered kidney damage, while the other had a tube inserted into his windpipe to help him breathe.
According to a warrant, one victim's injuries "would have resulted in renal failure leading to death" if not treated. Medical records confirm the second victim was intubated to prevent further deterioration.
Prosecutor's statement
Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle emphasized the dangers of hazing, stating, "In Florida, hazing is abuse and it is a crime. Its victims too often lie in their graves and in hospital beds." She referenced past hazing deaths in Florida, including Chad Meredith in 2001, Robert Champion in 2011, and Andrew Coffey in 2017.
Rundle added, "Among some, fraternity hazing might be seen as a tradition creating a sense of belonging and brotherhood, but since 2001, hazing in Florida has killed Chad Meredith, Robert Champion, and Andrew Coffey while seriously injuring others. This case provides clear-cut examples of hazing's danger."
Pinder's background
Pinder, a 2021 Florida International University graduate, was assigned to the Secret Service's Miami field office and joined the agency in 2023. His attorney, Justin Beckham, described the charges as "grossly overcharged." A Secret Service spokesman said any misconduct would be addressed swiftly upon completion of the investigative process.
In a separate, unrelated case, a Secret Service agent assigned to Vice-President JD Vance's protective detail was also under investigation for allegedly compromising operational security.
