Salisbury University Students and Fraternity Suspended Following Alleged Hate Crime Attack

In a shocking and disturbing incident, 12 students from Salisbury University in Maryland have been charged in connection with an alleged hate crime attack on a man due to his sexual orientation. The incident, which occurred on October 15, involved students who used the dating app Grindr to lure the victim to an off-campus apartment under false pretenses.

According to police reports, the suspects created a fake account on Grindr, posing as a 16-year-old, and convinced the victim to meet at an apartment on the 1400 block of University Terrace. Upon arrival, the victim was confronted by approximately 15 college-aged males who emerged from the back bedrooms. The men forcefully seated the victim in a chair, slapped, punched, kicked, and spit on him while yelling anti-gay slurs. One suspect even struck the victim with a cooking sheet.

The victim, who is not a Salisbury University student, attempted to flee multiple times but was thrown to the floor each time. He eventually managed to escape and later sought medical assistance, discovering he had sustained a broken rib and multiple bruises.

Seven of the students involved were members or associates of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, which has been suspended by the university under its Code of Student Organization standards. The students charged include Ryder Baker, Bennan Aird, Riley Brister, Cruz Cespedes, Dylan Earp, Elijah Johnson, and Zachary Leinemann, along with five other students: Cameron Guy, Jacob Howard, Eric Sinclair, Patrick Gutierrez, and Dylan Pietuszka.

Salisbury University President Carolyn Lepre condemned the act, stating that “acts of violence towards LGBTQ+ and ally communities are not only destructive but at odds with the principles of community, respect, and belonging that bind us together as a university.”.

The university has assured that any student involved in such acts of violence will face both criminal charges and disciplinary action under the university’s Student Code of Community Standards. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and heartbreak within the community, with local LGBTQ+ advocacy groups expressing their dismay and calling for greater support and safety measures.