Seven students from Salisbury University in Maryland allegedly lured a man they targeted because of his sexual orientation to an off-campus apartment, where they spat on, restrained, and assaulted him for several minutes, resulting in a fractured rib and bruising, police reported.

All students involved, men aged between 18 and 20, are now facing assault and hate crime charges, according to a statement by the Salisbury Police Department released on Tuesday. For privacy and safety, the identity of the victim, who is not a Salisbury University student, has been withheld.

On October 15, the students reportedly used a social media account to deceive the victim into coming to the apartment. Upon arrival, the students forced him into a chair in the living room, where they “kicked, punched, and spat on” him, calling him slurs, as detailed in the release.

The victim attempted to escape but was thrown to the floor. After several minutes of assault, he was eventually allowed to leave and sought medical help.

The individuals arrested are identified as Riley Brister, 20, of Davidsonville, Md.; Ryder Baker, 20, of Olney, Md.; Bennan Aird, 18, of Milton, Del.; Cruz Cespedes, 19, of Jarrettsville, Md.; Dylan Earp, 20, of Gambrills, Md.; Elijah Johnson, 19, of Crofton, Md.; and Zachary Leinemann, 18, of Crofton, Md.

Attorneys for Brister and Leinemann claim that the victim, an adult, went to the apartment intending to engage in sexual activity with a 16-year-old, disputing the allegations of a hate crime. “This situation is not one of targeting based on sexual orientation,” stated James L. Britt, Leinemann’s lawyer, who added that as facts emerge, this case will appear as an “ill-conceived attempt to expose” the alleged victim’s intentions.

Charging documents reveal the students had used Grindr, posing as a 16-year-old boy, to lure the individual. Mr. Brister’s attorney, Steven Rakow, noted that his client would plead not guilty.

Other students’ legal representation remains unclear. Mr. Rakow confirmed that all students were released from custody on Wednesday.

The students, some of whom were pledging to join a fraternity, face additional charges including assault, false imprisonment, and reckless endangerment, as per police records. The Salisbury University Police Department alerted city police to the incident on October 31, leading detectives to gather witness testimonies and obtain a phone recording of the incident.

Salisbury University, a four-year public institution with about 6,200 undergraduates, strongly condemned the assault. “Any student who commits violence can expect criminal charges and university disciplinary action under S.U.’s Student Code of Community Standards,” stated university spokesperson Jason Rhodes.

Carolyn Ringer Lepre, the university’s president, announced in an email to the campus that the students involved were under interim suspension during the ongoing investigation. “Violence against the LGBTQ+ community and its allies is deeply destructive and counter to the values of respect and belonging that define our university,” she wrote.t bind us together as a university,” she said in the email.