Multiple students have been charged in a hate crime inquiry following the assault of a male victim last month.
The Salisbury Police Department in Maryland confirmed in a release on Thursday, Nov. 7, that 12 suspects — identified as members and/or associates of a fraternity at Salisbury University — were facing multiple charges, including assault, reckless endangerment, and false imprisonment, in connection with the Oct. 15 attack.
According to the announcement, the incident took place at an off-campus apartment complex for college-aged students, and detectives discovered video footage on a cellphone.
According to the announcement, police verified that the unnamed victim was “targeted due to his sexual preferences.”
“A group of men utilized a social media account and invited the victim to a residence within the 1400 block of University Terrace under false pretenses,” according to the article.
According to 7News, WJZ News, and WBOC, the victim was enticed to the area after one of the suspects allegedly created an account on the dating app Grindr and pretended to be a 16-year-old.
“When the victim responded and entered the residence, numerous college-aged men surrounded him and forced him to sit in a chair isolated in the middle of the living room,” police said in a press release.
The statement stated, “After being forced to sit, the victim was kicked, punched, and spit on while the men called her abusive insults. The victim told authorities that he tried to escape the residence many times, but was thrown to the floor each time. The assault continued several minutes before he was finally permitted to leave.
Police verified that the victim, who reported the assault on October 31, sustained bruising over his body and a cracked rib in the attack.
Ryder Baker, 20, Bennan Aird, 18, Riley Brister, 20, Cruz Cespedes, 19, Dylan Earp, 20, Elijah Johnson, 19, and Zachary Leinemann, 18, were initially listed as suspects in the assault by police.
On Thursday, Nov. 7, police identified Cameron Guy, 18; Jacob Howard, 19; Eric Sinclair, 21; Patrick Gutierrez, 19; and Dylan Pietuszka, 20 as alleged perpetrators of the attack.
According to the announcement, all people have been charged with first-degree assault, false imprisonment, reckless endangerment, and the accompanying Hate Crime charges.
The investigation is underway.
A representative for the institution stated, “All 12 students who were charged have been placed on suspension, which is the harshest penalty the University can impose at this stage of the process under our Code of Community Standards.”
“Salisbury University condemns all forms of violence. “We are committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all, both on and off campus,” they said in the statement.
“Any student who commits an act of violence will face criminal prosecution as well as disciplinary action under the Student Code of Community Standards. The offenses outlined directly contradict Salisbury University’s principles and what we stand for. Hatred has no place at SU,” the statement read.
A university spokeswoman verified that the victim was not a student.