Five Massachusetts college students are facing criminal charges after allegedly luring a soldier to their school's campus to ambush him in a TikTok trend inspired by 'To Catch a Predator.'
The incident occurred at Assumption University, where nearly 30 students chased the man from a building after he was invited there by a student on the dating app Tinder. The victim, who was not intending to meet anyone underage, was watching a baseball game with the student who invited him, and there was no indication of inappropriate behavior.
Despite this, the group of students staged a confrontation in the student lounge, recording the event as they accused the man of being a sexual offender. The situation escalated when one student punched the victim in the head, and another slammed his head into a car door as he tried to escape.
The victim, who is an active-duty military service member, was deployed overseas shortly after the attack. The students involved claimed they were inspired by the TV show 'To Catch a Predator' and a TikTok trend where people lure sexual predators to locations to expose or assault them.
Four of the students, identified as Easton Randall, Kelsy Brainard, Isabella Trudeau, and Joaquin Smith, are facing charges of kidnapping and conspiracy. Brainard also faces an additional charge of intimidation, while Kevin Carroll, who allegedly assaulted the victim, is charged with assault and battery with a deadly weapon.
Assumption University President Greg Weiner condemned the incident, stating that it goes against the school's values and mission. The Department of Public Safety at the university launched an immediate investigation into the matter.
The students are scheduled to appear in court on January 16. The university expressed its support for the victim, emphasizing the sacrifices made by military personnel in defending freedoms, including the pursuit of education.
