Twelve students at Salisbury University in Maryland have been charged with a hate crime after they allegedly targeted a man on Grindr, took him to an apartment and brutally beat him in an anti-gay attack, police said.
The students, all affiliated with the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, are accused of creating a fake profile on a dating app so they could target an unidentified victim because of his “sexual orientation.” Salisbury Police Department said.
He then presented himself as a 16-year-old boy — the age of consent in Maryland — to persuade the victim to come to an off-campus apartment under “false pretenses” on Oct. 15, police said. .
According to police, once inside, the group surrounded the man and forced him to sit on a chair in the middle of the living room.
“After being forced to sit, the victim was kicked, punched and spat upon, while the men called the victim derogatory names,” police said in a statement. The alleged attack lasted for several minutes, police said in a statement.
At least one student, who was wearing a Salisbury University hoodie, hit the victim multiple times with a cooking sheet, WJZ reportedCiting charging documents.
The victim told investigators that he repeatedly tried to escape but was pinned to the ground each time.
After eventually being allowed to leave the apartment, the victim was treated for his injuries – which included a broken rib and bruises all over his body.
Police became aware of the incident when two people reported that one of them had shown them a video of part of the alleged attack, charging documents state.
The dozen people charged include: Bennon Aird, 18; Ryder Baker, 20; Riley Brister, 20; Cruz Cespedes, 19; Dylan Earp, 20; Elijah Johnson, 19; Zachary Linneman, 18; Patrick Gutierrez, 19; Cameron Guy, 18; Jacob Howard, 19; Dylan Pietuszka, 20; and Eric Sinclair, 21.
In addition to hate crime charges, the students were also charged with assault, false imprisonment and reckless endangerment.
Police have not disclosed how old the victim is, whether he attended the college or whether he knew his alleged attackers.
A Salisbury University spokesperson said all students allegedly involved have been suspended pending the police investigation.
“Salisbury University condemns all acts of violence,” he said in a statement.
“Any student who commits an act of violence may face criminal charges as well as disciplinary action under SU’s Student Community Standards Code. The crimes described are in direct conflict with the values of Salisbury University and what we stand for.
“There is no place for hatred in SU,” the spokesperson said.
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