COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State University has suspended its Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter while university officials and Columbus police investigate a video circulating online that appears to show two young men on fire at a gathering near campus Saturday night.
The university placed the fraternity on interim suspension on Sunday and referred the matter to law enforcement, Ohio State spokesman Ben Johnson said in a statement.
“The university is aware of this extremely concerning incident, and the individuals in question are receiving needed medical care,” the statement said. “Ohio State has placed the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity on interim suspension pending a full investigation, and the university has made referrals to law enforcement.”
The video, posted to X, appears to show a man on the ground with his sweatpants in flames while another person struggles to use a fire extinguisher on him. The man then gets to his feet and lunges into a second man wearing a matching gray sweatsuit, and the second man’s clothing catches fire as the two go to the ground. Both men tear off their burning clothes while the people around them try to beat out the flames. A second clip, filmed from a different angle, appears to show the second man’s pant leg was already burning when he was tackled.
The video below is unedited third-party footage posted on X that has circulated widely online. J News Network did not record it. Video: X / @YouKnowSlits.
Columbus police said the incident appears to have taken place Saturday in the 1900 block of Indianola Avenue, just north of the campus area. Police said the university alerted the department to the video on Sunday, and that officers received no calls for service in the area on Saturday night.
“We will be working with the Ohio State University, as well as the Columbus Division of Fire’s Arson Unit to determine if any criminal acts occurred,” police said in a statement.
As of Monday, police had not announced any arrests or charges. The university said the individuals in the video are receiving needed medical care, but the severity of their injuries has not been released, and their conditions could not be confirmed.
The fraternity’s national organization said Monday it is investigating as well. Steve Mitchell, chief executive officer of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, said the organization is aware of the video, is investigating the circumstances and is working with authorities.
“Sigma Alpha Epsilon holds its collegiate members to high standards of conduct and accountability,” Mitchell said. “Behavior that violates these standards has no place in our organization. We are committed to holding those responsible accountable and will take appropriate action based on the findings of the investigation.”
“Ohio State is committed to a safe and healthy environment and expects students and student organizations to uphold that commitment and the university’s values,” the university’s statement said.
The video circulated on a home game weekend in Columbus, where Ohio State hosted Oregon on Saturday.
WATCH: Ohio State suspends Sigma Alpha Epsilon — our full report is in the video below.
