Elk Grove High Football Players Suspended After Alleged Locker-Room Hazing

At least three Elk Grove High School varsity football players were suspended after a cell-phone video allegedly showed them humiliating a freshman teammate, school officials and media reports said.

Two sources with knowledge of the situation told The Sacramento Bee that members of the varsity team pulled down the freshman's pants and simulated sexual acts while the incident was recorded. The players reportedly missed the school's home opener on Friday after being removed from team activities pending disciplinary action.

Elk Grove Unified School District spokesperson Lisa Levasseur told The Bee that "appropriate disciplinary action has been taken with the students involved" and that the district "has been working closely with law enforcement to investigate the incident." An email sent Sept. 4 from Elk Grove principal Rudy Ortega to parents of Thundering Herd players noted "a matter that requires our collective attention and actions," according to the newspaper.

"It has come to our attention that a group of student‑athletes have engaged in behaviors that do not align with the standards of conduct and character we uphold at Elk Grove High School," Ortega wrote, as reported by The Bee. Ortega said the investigation will "address the issue with transparency and accountability" and that the school would increase supervision around the locker room while evaluating locker-room culture and student‑athlete conduct.

The Sacramento Bee reported the account and identified the alleged behavior based on two sources; the district has not publicly identified the students involved. School officials declined to provide the names of those suspended, citing student privacy and the ongoing investigation.

According to the reporting, the California Interscholastic Federation does not issue suspensions for hazing incidents, and disciplinary decisions are left to local school authorities. Elk Grove Unified School District officials have said they are coordinating with law enforcement as part of the inquiry.

Elk Grove High School, located near Sacramento, has produced multiple professional athletes, including former NBA player Bill Cartwright and NFL linebacker Lance Briggs, as well as several Major League Baseball players. The school has not linked the current incident to any former students or professional figures.

District officials said they were taking steps to address the immediate situation and to review policies and supervision practices to prevent future incidents. The investigation is ongoing, and the school and law enforcement have not released additional details publicly.