Prosecutors Investigate LSU Rape Allegation After Penalty Cut

LSU defensive end Damien Shanklin is under investigation by campus police and the East Baton Rouge district attorney over a student’s allegation that he raped her in October 2025. LSU’s Title IX office found him responsible for forcible rape and initially suspended him for two semesters, but an appeal replaced the suspension with four semesters of probation, allowing him to remain on campus. The student has criticized the university’s handling of the case and said she fears encountering Shanklin; he has not played this season. Shanklin’s attorneys deny the allegations and say he will cooperate with the criminal investigation, which prosecutors are pursuing by gathering records and evidence.