Ark. college student fatally beaten in gang rite

[Lucinda F. Boyd]

An Arkansas college student has died after being severely beaten in what Memphis police say was a gang initiation.

Police identified the victim as 22-year-old Keith Saulsberry — a student at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, who could have graduated in December.

The Shelby County Medical Examiner’s Office said Saulsberry died of head injuries. The Commercial Appeal cited a police affidavit in reporting Saulsberry was beaten by members of the Bloods late Friday as part of his initiation rites into the street gang. After throwing water on him for a half-hour, gang members took him to Methodist Hospital, where he died early Saturday.

Police arrested Robert Barlow and had a warrant for Raymond Clark. Both are charged with aggravated assault and reckless homicide.