12 Salisbury University students see hate crime charges dropped in assault case
What we know
SALISBURY, Md. - Prosecutors have dropped hate crime charges against 12 of the 15 Salisbury University students arrested in connection with an October assault in which a man was allegedly lured to an off-campus apartment, beaten, and subjected to a homophobic slur.
The Wicomico County Office of the State's Attorney announced that after reviewing the evidence, it charged the defendants based on the findings.
In a statement sent to the Washington Post, the State's Attorney's Office said it "reviewed the evidence gathered during the course of the investigation," and "charged as appropriate in light of that evidence."
The assault sparked an investigation after witnesses reported seeing a video of the attack, according to charging documents.
Twelve Salisbury University students arrested in alleged hate crime assault
Twelve Salisbury University students have been arrested in connection with an October assault on a man at an off-campus apartment complex. Police say the assault was motivated by the victim's sexual orientation.
Prosecutors Reassess Charges
Police initially reported that the defendants faced hate crime charges for targeting the victim based on his sexual orientation. Charging documents indicated that one of the accused created a fake profile on a dating app, enticing the victim with promises of sex with a 16-year-old.
Maryland law sets the legal age of consent at 16 in most cases, though the victim’s age was not disclosed in court documents.
Investigation Unfolds
The case came to light after two witnesses told Salisbury University campus police that they had seen a video of the assault. Following an investigation, authorities determined the victim sustained serious injuries, including a broken rib and extensive bruising.
Future Proceedings
Prosecutors have not elaborated on the remaining charges against the defendants but emphasized that decisions were based on the evidence collected.
The Source: The Associated Press contributed to this report along with details from The Washington Post.