Madison Brooks news latest: Prosecutors vow to upgrade charges against four accused of rape of LSU student

Andrew Blanco is following the case and filed this report.

The bar where an underage Louisiana State University (LSU) student met her alleged rapists before she was hit by a car and killed has had its liquor licence suspended.

The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control announced on Tuesday that it was issuing an emergency suspension for Reggie’s bar in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, following the tragic death of 19-year-old Madison Brooks.

The agency cited “the seriousness of the allegations and the potential threat to public safety”.

Four men have been arrested for allegedly raping Louisiana State University student Madison Brooks before dropping her off in a dark street, where she was fatally hit.

Kaivon Deondre Washington, 18, and a 17-year-old male who was not identified because he is a minor have been charged with third-degree rape.

Mr Washington’s uncle Everette Lee, 28, and Casen Carver, 18, were also charged with principal to rape.

LSU has confirmed that none of the four alleged attackers are students at the college.

Brooks, 19, was allegedly sexually assaulted in a car on 15 January after a night of drinking in a Baton Rouge bar before being left on a dark road in the early hours of the morning, at which point she appears to have been struck by accident by a passing car, dying later in hospital of her injuries.

Joe Sommerlad has put together a timeline of everything we know about the case so far:

An autopsy confirmed that Madison Brooks had injuries consistent with a sexual assault attack, according to an arrest warrant.

Investigators said that the victim and the four suspects met at a bar on 14 January before she allegedly asked them to drop her off. Mr Carver told authorities that Mr Washington and the unidentified minor asked the victim to have sex with them but admitted she was intoxicated, stumbling and slurring her words.

The men then dropped her off in a neighbourhood near Pelican Lakes Parkway. While standing in a dark portion of the roadway around 3am, Brooks was hit by a vehicle and died hours later in the hospital.

Footage from the bar seized by investigators reportedly showed her falling several times in front of at least one of the suspects before they left the business.

Mr Carver told police that Brooks was “very unstable on her feet, was not able to keep her balance, and was unable to speak clearly without slurring her words.”

Despite her state of intoxication, two of the suspects proceeded to have intercourse with her inside the car, Mr Carver told police. He later said that he “felt uncomfortable and hated it.”

When asked by investigators if he believed Brooks was too impaired to consent, Mr Carver reportedly said, “I guess.”

Now, prosecutors in the case have also vowed to upgrade the charges against the alleged attackers.

Prosecutor Stuart Theriot said at Tuesday’s bond hearing that the state would seek upgraded charges of first-degree rape and planned to convene a grand jury in the case.

Kaivon Deondre Washington, 18, and a 17-year-old male who has not been named due to his age have been charged with third-degree rape. Mr Washington’s uncle Everette Lee, 28, and Casen Carver, 18, are charged with principal to rape.

Mr Washington had his bond set by 19th Judicial District Judge Brad Myers at $150,000. Mr Lee was given a $75,000 bond and Mr Carver was given a $50,000 bond. Mr Lee and Mr Carver were released on bond on Wednesday.

The 17-year-old’s bond hearing has been postponed to February.

It has emerged that it is not the first that the bar where Madison Brooks spent the night of 15 January, Reggie’s – located in the area dubbed Tigerland – has come under fire before over a series of violent events.

The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control announced on Tuesday that it was issuing an emergency suspension for Reggie’s bar in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, following the tragic death of 19-year-old Madison Brooks.

The agency cited “the seriousness of the allegations and the potential threat to public safety”.

The city of Baton Rouge has been shaken by the alleged rape of Madison Brooks that led to her tragic death when she was struck by a car. Fellow LSU students, mothers and the university’s president demand justice for her, as Andrea Blanco and Rachel Sharp report.

A video that four men hoped would exonerate them of the rape of a Louisiana State University (LSU) student has instead proven that a crime did occur, according to a judge – hours after an attorney for two of the suspects claimed it shows the late 19-year-old had consented to sex.

Rachel Sharp reports on what was said in court.