Twelve male students from Salisbury University in Maryland have been arrested on hate crime charges for allegedly assaulting a man they met on a dating app, according to Salisbury Police. The students, all members or associated with the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, lured the victim to an off-campus apartment and attacked him on October 15.
The first set of students charged include Ryder Baker, Bennan Aird, Riley Brister, Cruz Cespedes, Dylan Earp, Elijah Johnson, and Zachary Leinemann. They face charges of first-degree assault, false imprisonment, reckless endangerment, and hate crimes. Five more students, Cameron Guy, Jacob Howard, Eric Sinclair, Patrick Gutierrez, and Dylan Pietuszka, have also been charged with similar crimes.
The incident began when Leinemann contacted the victim on Grindr, a dating app for LGBTQ+ individuals, posing as a 16-year-old. The victim was then lured to the apartment with the promise of sex. Upon arrival, he was ambushed by at least 15 men, forced to sit in a chair, and subjected to physical assault, verbal abuse, and humiliation. The victim sustained injuries including bruises and a broken rib.
The assault was recorded, and the victim was forced to read a handwritten weather report while being attacked. Authorities were not made aware of the incident until two individuals who saw the videos reported the attack to campus police. The victim was targeted due to his sexual orientation, according to detectives.
Salisbury University has placed the fraternity on suspension and the accused students on interim suspension. University president Carolyn Ringer Lepre condemned the violence, stating that such acts are against the principles of community, respect, and belonging that the university upholds. She emphasized the importance of creating a safe and inclusive environment for all individuals on campus.
The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals and the need to address discrimination and violence against marginalized communities. It serves as a reminder of the importance of promoting acceptance, tolerance, and understanding in all aspects of society. Efforts to combat hate crimes and support victims of such incidents are crucial in creating a more equitable and compassionate world for everyone.
