Three weeks after an 18-year-old Cal State Fullerton student died after attending an off-campus fraternity event, NBC Los Angeles has learned that the student association as well as its property have a long history of trouble and violations with police and the university.
Anthony Joseph Blas died Sept. 13 after he was found unresponsive at the event and dropped off at St. Jude Medical Center’s emergency department. Alcohol consumption appeared to have been a contributing factor to the student’s death, according to the Fullerton Police Department.
Property and tax records show the fraternity home, a gray-colored property with red trim near Milton Avenue and Associated Road, is owned by the alumni association of Delta Chi.
The long list of police calls obtained by NBCLA shows Fullerton police responded to the house more than 250 times since January 2021, mostly for disturbances and loud music. The list also reveals police also responded to a welfare check and assault with a deadly weapon in the past, although no citations or fines were ever issued at the house.
Neighbors told NBCLA that the fraternity house has been a neighborhood nuisance for years. A woman who lives right behind the house said loud parties keep her up all hours of the night.
“They need to go,” Amanda Robledo said, adding that she feels disrespected constantly. “You can’t do anything. You can’t park your car. There’s trash everywhere. My animals are being messed with. They’re going to the bathroom on our fence, just yelling profanities all night.”
On the night of Sept. 12, when Blas attended a gathering at the home, someone reported a disturbance party, according to the service calls. Then, before midnight, a group of people took the unresponsive Blas to St. Jude Medical Center, where he later died, according to police. No one called 911 during the incident, Fullerton police confirmed.
Linda Blas, the deceased student’s mother, told NBCLA that she wants someone to be held accountable for the death.
“Somebody needs to be held responsible for serving liquor,” the grieving mom said. “I don’t know what they served to minors because he sure as heck couldn’t get it; his license says 18.”
Cal State Fullerton noted on its website that Delta Chi has not been recognized by the university since April 2021 because of a list of violations, including hazing and conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person.
The fraternity’s national chapter told NBCLA that Delta Chi’s chapter at Cal State Fullerton has not been recognized, chartered, or authorized since it was closed in 2021. The association also said it supports a thorough and transparent review of the facts while extending its condolences to the Blas family.
NBCLA attempted to speak with those leaving the fraternity home, but no one responded.