DURHAM, N.H.(AP) – The University of New Hampshire said Friday it suspended a backup quarterback after learning that he faces murder charges in California.
Henri “Hank” Hendricks, 21, is charged with murder, assault and battery in the beating death of a professional surfer in San Diego in May, the university said. He is to be arraigned Monday in California.
Police allege that Hendricks and four other men beat professional surfer Emery Kauanui Jr. of Hawaii at Kauanui’s home on May 24. Kauanui, 24, died several days later.
Hendricks was not arrested immediately after the beating, but gave a statement on his involvement to police a few days later.
Prosecutors filed new charges Tuesday against the other four men and named Hendricks, who was not originally identified as a suspect. The latest charges include several assaults, which prosecutors said occurred before the attack.
Police allege the men are members of a gang known as the Bird Rock Bandits, something defense lawyers deny.
Seth Cravens, 21; Eric House, 20; Orlando Osuna, 22; and Matthew Yanke, 21, also are charged with murder, assault and battery. They pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported. If convicted, they could be sent to prison for life.
According to search warrant affidavits, Hendricks told detectives he was with Cravens, House, Yanke and Osuna at a bar the night of May 23 but had left when a confrontation occurred between House and Kauanui.
Hendricks told police he and the others drove to Kauanui’s home, where a second confrontation occurred. He said it ended when Kauanui got punched in the jaw and fell backward, hitting his head.
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