Though the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity website claims a strict no-hazing stance, the family of Tyler Hilliard claims hazing was a big part of his pledging experience.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) –An investigation is underway after a student at the University of California Riverside died in what may be a fraternity hazing incident.

Tyler Hilliard, 20, would have been a junior this year, majoring in engineering.

Police are waiting for the results of an autopsy, but did confirm they are investigating the possibility of hazing in his death.

His family says Tyler was going for a degree in physics at UCR and wanted to be an engineer.

They say he’d recently pledged at the fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha and that activities began in July.

According to the fraternity’s website, Alpha Phi Alpha has a strict no-hazing stance, and that anyone participating in hazing is a criminal.

But his family says hazing was a big part of the activities Hilliard was involved with. He was allegedly forced to eat items like an entire onion covered in hot sauce, forced to drink large amounts of water; and even paddled with a piece of cactus.

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The entire staff at School Violence Law and The Fierberg National Law Group extend our sincere condolences to the family of Tyler Hilliard.