Twelve students charged with ‘targeted’ hate crime: police

Several students have been charged in a hate crime investigation after a male victim was attacked last month.

On Thursday, November 7, Salisbury, Maryland police confirmed in a edition that 12 suspects — determined to be members and/or employees of a fraternity at Salisbury University — faced multiple charges, including assault, reckless endangerment and false imprisonment, after the Oct. 15 attack.

The attack took place at an off-campus apartment complex for college-aged students, the release said, adding that investigators viewed cell phone footage.

Police confirmed that the victim, who has not been named, “was targeted due to his sexual preferences,” the release said.

“A group of men used a social media account and invited the victim to a home in the 1400 block of University Terrace under false pretenses,” the post said.

7News, WJZ news And WBOC stated that the victim was lured to the scene after one of the suspects allegedly created an account on the dating app Grindr, posing as a 16-year-old.

“When the victim responded and entered the residence, numerous middle-aged men surrounded the victim and forced him to sit in a chair in the center of the living room,” police added of the attack in the news release.

The statement continued: “After being forcibly sat down, the victim was kicked, punched and spat at while the men called the victim derogatory names. The victim told detectives that he had tried to leave the apartment several times; the floor during each first escape attempt. The attack lasted several minutes until he was finally allowed to leave.

The victim, who reported the incident on October 31, suffered bruises all over his body and a broken rib in the attack, police confirmed.

Police initially identified Ryder Baker, 20; Bennan Aird, 18; Riley Brister, 20; Cruz Cespedes, 19; Dylan Earp, 20; Elijah Johnson, 19; and Zachary Leinemann, 18, as involved in the attack.

On Thursday, November 7, after further investigation, police identified the following as suspected part of the attack; Cameron Guy, 18; Jacob Howard, 19; Eric Sinclair, 21; Patrick Gutierrez, 19; and Dylan Pietuszka, 20.

All individuals have been charged with first-degree assault, false imprisonment, reckless endangerment and related hate crime charges, police confirmed in the news release.

The investigation is ongoing.

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A spokesperson for the university told PEOPLE: “All twelve charged students have been suspended, which is the most severe penalty the university can impose at this stage of the process under our Code of Community Standards.”

“Salisbury University condemns all acts of violence. We are committed to maintaining a safe, welcoming environment for all, both on and off campus,” she added in the statement.

“Any student who commits an act of violence may face criminal charges, as well as disciplinary action under SU’s Student Code of Community Standards. The crimes described are in direct conflict with the values ​​of Salisbury University and what we stand for. There is no room for hatred. at SU,” the statement continued.

The university spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE that the victim was not a student at the school.

Salisbury police did not immediately respond when PEOPLE contacted them for additional information.