A hate crime investigation has led to the arrest of 12 Salisbury University students, all members or associates of a fraternity, for their alleged involvement in a brutal assault on a male victim.
According to the Salisbury Police Department, the victim was targeted due to his sexual preferences.
The assault occurred on October 15 at an off-campus apartment complex.
Police revealed that the suspects used a social media account and a dating app, Grindr, to lure the victim to the residence under false pretenses. Once inside, the victim was surrounded, forced to sit in a chair, and subjected to physical and verbal abuse.
“The victim was kicked, punched, and spit on while the men called the victim derogatory names,” the police statement read. “The victim conveyed to detectives that he attempted to leave the apartment multiple times; however, he was thrown to the floor during every initial attempt to flee.”
The victim, who reported the crime on October 31, sustained severe injuries, including bruising throughout his body and a broken rib.
The 12 suspects, ranging in age from 18 to 21, have been charged with:
Assault First-Degree
False Imprisonment
Reckless Endangerment
Hate Crime charges
False Imprisonment
Reckless Endangerment
Hate Crime charges
The suspects are: Ryder Baker, 20, Bennan Aird, 18, Riley Brister, 20, Cruz Cespedes, 19, Dylan Earp, 20, Elijah Johnson, 19, Zachary Leinemann, 18, Cameron Guy, 18, Jacob, Howard, 19, Eric Sinclair, 21, Patrick Gutierrez, 19, Dylan Pietuszka, 20
The investigation is ongoing, and the police department urges anyone with information to come forward.
PEOPLE/NGG
