Three More Salisbury University Students Arrested on Hate Crime Charges in Assault Case
SALISBURY, Md. (AP) — Authorities in Maryland have arrested three additional Salisbury University students on hate crime charges linked to an attack in which a man was reportedly lured to an off-campus apartment, assaulted, and subjected to a homophobic slur.
These recent arrests bring the total number of defendants to 15 in connection to the October 15 incident, following the earlier arrest of 12 individuals. Salisbury police, serving the Eastern Shore city of roughly 35,000 residents, announced Thursday that no further arrests are anticipated.
The defendants face multiple charges, including assault, false imprisonment, and hate crimes, for allegedly targeting the victim due to his sexual orientation. Investigators revealed that one of the accused created a fake dating app profile, falsely offering the victim the prospect of sex with a 16-year-old.
The victim’s age was not disclosed in court documents. In Maryland, the legal age of consent is generally 16.
Two of the three most recently arrested individuals do not yet have listed attorneys, while a lawyer for the third declined to comment.
The investigation began when two witnesses reported seeing a video of the assault to campus police, according to charging documents. The victim sustained a broken rib and significant bruising.
Steve Rakow, an attorney representing one of the earlier defendants, has strongly denied the hate crime allegations, claiming the victim refrained from reporting the incident because he was attempting to engage in sexual activity with a minor.
Salisbury University officials have publicly condemned the attack, emphasizing their commitment to ensuring the safety of LGBTQ+ students on campus. In response, the university hosted a unity walk on Monday to show solidarity with the community.
