Penn State frat brother 'didn't know what to do' about unconscious pledge
Kordel Davis says he felt “useless” after Timothy Piazza fell down stairs.
— -- Pennsylvania State University fraternity member Kordel Davis, who was present after fellow student Timothy Piazza fell down a flight of stairs during an alleged hazing ritual in February, said this morning, "I didn't know what to do" when he suspected that Piazza, who later died from his injuries, was in trouble.
In an interview with co-anchor Robin Roberts on "Good Morning America," Davis called Piazza's death a "preventable tragedy."
Davis said that he voiced concerns to his frat brothers but failed to call 911 because senior members of the group convinced him that he was overreacting.
"I was kind of, like, manipulated into thinking, 'Oh, everything is going to be fine,'" Davis said.
Piazza, 19, was found unconscious the morning of Feb. 3 after police were called to the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house at Penn State roughly 12 hours after he fell head first down the stairs.
Davis said he pleaded with fellow frat members to call 911.
"I got thrown against the wall," he said of the reaction he received when voicing his concerns about Piazza. "I felt useless."
Davis said that he saw Piazza lying on a couch after the alleged hazing ritual and that people were laughing at him.
As for lessons learned, he said, "When you think something is wrong, you shouldn't be afraid to speak your mind. Don't let people change your thoughts."
The eight people charged with involuntary manslaughter were arraigned Friday afternoon in a preliminary hearing.
No pleas were entered and bail was set at $100,000 ROR (release on your own recognizance), the Centre County district attorney said. They are prohibited from having alcohol and non-prescription drugs, cannot leave their home state without express permission from the judge and must surrender their passports, according to the district attorney.
Ten others faced lesser charges.
One of the defense attorneys in the case told ABC News, "Of course, it's a tragedy. But that doesn't mean there's any intent involved in any of this."
Davis has not been charged.
ABC News' David Caplan and Matthew Stone contributed to this report.