Salisbury University Students Charged with Hate Crimes

Twelve Salisbury University students have been charged with hate crimes after allegedly luring and assaulting a gay man in an off-campus apartment, using a fake Grindr account to entice him. The group is accused of beating the victim while calling him derogatory names, with the incident reportedly caught on video. Legal representatives for the defendants have disputed the hate crime allegations, claiming the assault was not motivated by prejudice and suggesting the victim feared reporting the incident due to his own circumstances. The university has suspended the involved students and is forming a task force for LGBTQ+ inclusiveness in the wake of the incident. The case has prompted a community vigil, reflecting the heightened concerns for safety among LGBTQ+ students on campus. University President Carolyn Ringer Lepre emphasized the need for healing and condemned the acts of violence.