12 Salisbury University frat members charged in brutal hate crime assault

A twelve Salisbury University fraternity members person been arrested connected hatred transgression charges successful the brutal battle of a cheery antheral due to the fact that of his intersexual orientation, authorities successful Maryland said Thursday.

The victim, who has not been named, was allegedly lured to an off-campus flat connected Oct. 15 by “a radical of men” utilizing a societal media relationship “under mendacious pretenses,” the Salisbury Police Department said successful a quality release.

One of the suspects used the fashionable cheery dating app Grindr to lure the unfortunate to the scene, section TV presumption WJZ reported, citing charging documents.

When the unfortunate arrived astatine the residence, helium was surrounded by “numerous college-aged men” who forced him to beryllium successful a seat successful the mediate of the surviving room. The radical past “kicked, punched and [spat]” connected the victim, portion calling him anti-gay slurs, authorities said.

The unfortunate told constabulary helium attempted to permission the flat “multiple times” but was ever stopped by the men, who would propulsion him connected the level “during each archetypal effort to flee.”

The battle lasted for respective minutes earlier the unfortunate was allowed to leave, starring to a breached rib and bruises crossed his body, investigators said.

Seven suspects were initially arrested for their alleged engagement successful the assault: Bennan Aird, 18; Ryder Baker, 20; Riley Brister, 20; Cruz Cespedes, 19; Dylan Earp, 20; Elijah Johnson, 19; and Zachary Leinemann, 18.

On Thursday, constabulary announced the apprehension of 5 further suspects: Patrick Gutierrez, 19; Cameron Guy, 18; Jacob Howard, 19; Dylan Pietuszka, 20; and Eric Sinclair, 21.

All 12 individuals, who are members of the fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon, are charged with first-degree assault, mendacious imprisonment, reckless endangerment and the associated hatred transgression charges, constabulary said.

The students and the fraternity person been placed connected suspension, Salisbury University President Carolyn Ringer Lepre said successful a statement, calling the incidental an “act of visceral hate.”