Apr 29, 2015 10:16 AM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

The Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT) fraternity chapter at the University of Florida (UF) is closing immediately due to ugly allegations of verbally and physically harassing a group of wounded military veterans.

According to the Associated Press, UF announced an investigation into the matter a week ago before placing the fraternity on an interim suspension, expelling three members and now shutting down the group. On a fraternity retreat on Panama City Beach, witnesses said members hurled insults at the group of veterans, spat at them and stole flags off their cars.

The Warrior Beach group initially brought the matter to UF's attention in a letter, prompting the school's investigation. Emory University's ZBT chapter was originally implicated, but the school has since found no evidence to support those claims.

"I continue to be saddened and disappointed by the reported mistreatment and disrespect of our military veterans," UF President Kent Fuchs said in a statement. "Our university has always honored, and will always honor, the service of veterans. The reported conduct of this fraternity contradicts the values of service and respect that are at the center of this university."

The ZBT national office aided UF in the investigation and supported the decision to close the school's chapter.

"We are absolutely disgusted by the accusations that have been made regarding the behavior of certain members of this chapter. ZBT has a long history of serving our country with brothers currently serving in all ranks of the military," Matthew J. Rubins, the fraternity's international president, said in a statement. "ZBT will work diligently to demonstrate that the alleged behavior of a few does not represent the values of the many.

"Despite the closing of the chapter, we will continue our investigation into the matter. We are committed to holding fully responsible those who engaged in any alleged wrongdoing."

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