Salisbury University fraternity expels members charged in alleged hate crime; video shows victim struck, trying to escape

BALTIMORE -- The Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity has expelled its members who are charged in an alleged hate crime attack at an off-campus apartment near Salisbury University. 

Video of the October 15th assault, shows the victim being hit with a cookie sheet.

"Why are you getting up? Why are you getting up? Make one more move, and I swear I'm going to punch the **** out of you, bro," one of the suspects yells. "Get back down! Lay down. Lay down. Lay down, or I'm going to punch the **** out of you!"

The victim pleads, "Please, can I just leave? Please, I won't do it again, I swear."

A suspect allegedly created an account on Grindr, a dating app used primarily by gay and bisexual men, and posed as a 16-year-old, luring the victim to an apartment just off the Salisbury University campus for sex, according to charging documents obtained by WJZ.

"Approximately 15 college-aged males appeared from the back bedrooms," the documents state, and within moments, "slapped, punched, kicked and spit" on the victim while yelling an anti-gay slur.

One suspect in a Salisbury University hoodie "[struck the victim] in the head multiple times with a cooking sheet in addition to spitting on [the victim] and calling him [a slur] during the incident," according to the charging documents. 

Police said the victim repeatedly tried to flee the apartment but was thrown to the floor. He was eventually able to escape.

The age of consent in Maryland is 16.

University Takes Action 

Salisbury University has condemned any acts of hate and suspended the students and the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity chapter.

"The [students charged] aren't allowed on campus property. They also can't take classes at S.U. either online or virtually, and they can't attend Salisbury University-sponsored events," school spokesman Jason Rhodes told WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren in an interview Friday. 

Rhodes repeatedly said "hate has no place" at the university. 

"These allegations are very shocking and disturbing. We've opened up counseling for students who may need support at this time, and we've also taken steps toward making sure the LGBTQ community on campus feels supported at this time," Rhodes said. 

Salisbury University's president Dr. Carolyn Ringer Lepre wrote in a Facebook message to the campus, "Our community is reeling from an act of visceral hate. We are witnessing a campus filled with anguish that something so unspeakable could happen from within the community that we all love."

"The first initial response was heartbreak mixed with outrage. There's no reason something like this should happen just for somebody being who they are," said Mark DeLancey, executive director of Salisbury PFLAG, an organization that advocates for the LGBTQ+ community. 

The school is now forming a task force on LGBTQ inclusiveness and will hold a unity event on campus Monday afternoon. 

Fraternity Expels Members

WJZ was the first to report the SAE fraternity expelled the students involved who are affiliated with its Salisbury chapter.

"Sigma Alpha Epsilon condemns hate and violence in any form, and we are disappointed that members of our chapter were involved in such an act," the suburban Chicago-based fraternity wrote in a statement. "The Fraternity Service Center has reviewed the circumstances surrounding the incident and has confirmed that it was isolated to the expelled individuals. The remaining members of our chapter are devoted to our mission and continue to uphold the high standards expected of Sigma Alpha Epsilon."

"These individuals' actions do not align with the values of our organization or reflect the principles of our Fraternity's creed, The True Gentleman," SAE officials said in a statement.

Student Reaction 

"I was shocked. I was honestly disheartened," Salisbury University Junior Anissa Wallace told Eastern Shore CBS station WBOC-TV. 

Wallace said she is an acquaintance of one of those charged.

"He seemed like a good student. We would study together. He was always asking me questions about what was going on in class," she said. "It was never anything that would lead me to believe that he could be capable of something like this. I'm surprised."

Defending Those Charged

Steven Rakow, a lawyer for one of the students, told WJZ his client is not guilty.

Another defendant's lawyer, James Britt, told WJZ's news partner The Baltimore Banner, "…This case will be shown to be an ill-advised attempt to expose someone willing to travel to have sexual relations with a 16-year-old child."

The defendants have been released on electronic monitoring according to court records. 

13 Now Charged

Salisbury police are leading the investigation. 

Lieutenant Brandon Caton confirmed Friday evening that 13 students have been charged in the incident. 

12 of them have been identified, and many are from the Baltimore area.

Police identified the seven associated with the fraternity as:

• 20-year-old Ryder Baker of Olney
• 18-year-old Bennan Aird of Milton, Delaware
• 20-year-old Riley Brister of Davidsonville
• 19-year-old Cruz Cespedes of Jarrettsville
• 20-year-old Dylan Earp of Gambrills
• 19-year-old Elijah Johnson of Crofton
• 18-year-old Zachary Leinemann of Crofton

Police identified the five others involved as:

• 18-year-old Cameron Guy of Timonium
• 19-year-old Jacob Howard of Elkridge
• 21-year-old Eric Sinclair of Mount Airy
• 19-year-old Patrick Gutierrez of Salisbury
• 20-year-old Dylan Pietuszka of Elkton

According to court documents, the victim did not report the attack and told police he was threatened and "was in fear for his life during the entirety of the incident and does believe he was targeted for being a homosexual."

The victim suffered a broken rib and was treated at the hospital.

Someone recorded the attack and charging documents revealed police tracked the victim down through MVA records because his license plate was visible in the video when he fled the scene.

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• Salisbury News