7 Salisbury students accused of hate crimes lured victims through social media

WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. – Seven Salisbury University students have been charged in connection with a hate crime over the victim’s sexuality.

This stems from an incident that occurred on October 15 in an off-campus student apartment.

Detectives met with witnesses and watched video of the victim being attacked by several students.

Police say the students lured the victim to the 1400 block of University Terrace via social media. When the victim arrived, he was surrounded and forced to sit on a chair in the middle of the living room.

After being forcibly seated, the victim was kicked, punched and spat at, while the men called him derogatory names.

Police say the victim tried to leave several times but was thrown to the ground each time he tried. The attack lasted several minutes until he was finally allowed to leave.

The victim suffered a broken rib as a result of the assault.

The students, some of whom are fraternity members, have been charged with first-degree assault, false imprisonment, reckless endangerment and related hate crime charges.

These were the seven students who allegedly participated in the attack:

• 20-year-old Ryder Baker
• 18-year-old Bennan Aird
• 20-year-old Riley Brister
• 19-year-old Cruz Cespedes
• 20-year-old Dylan Earp
• 19-year-old Elijah Johnson
• 18-year-old Zachary Leinemann

Carolyn Lepre, president of Salisbury University, said in a statement: “Moments like these are extremely difficult to convey. As president of the university, a resident of the community and mother of two university students, the right words elude me – they feel inadequate in fully conveying the weight of shock and disbelief we all share.”
“The thought of SU students perpetuating any crime is disturbing, but the thought of SU students committing crimes of such a disturbing nature is truly heinous. So let me be clear. We are upset by these allegations. I I am upset by these allegations,” the statement said.