Police in Salisbury, Maryland, charged 15 Salisbury University students last month in connection with a brutal attack on a 40-year-old man in an off-campus apartment.

The attack took place on October 15. The victim was targeted because of his sexual orientation, according to law enforcement. A suspect allegedly used the dating app Grindr to lure the victim to an off-campus apartment. Once there, according to charging documents, “approximately 15 college-aged males emerged from the back bedrooms.”

The attackers “slapped, punched, kicked and spat” on the victim for several minutes while calling him derogatory names. According to charging documents, a suspect struck the victim “several times in the head with a kitchen towel, in addition to spitting on (the victim) and calling her (an expletive) during the incident.” The victim suffered significant injuries, including a broken rib, and was eventually able to escape to a local hospital.

On November 7, authorities arrested five Salisbury University students for the alleged attack, which followed the arrest of seven students earlier that week. All 12 students were charged with first-degree assault, false imprisonment, reckless endangerment, and related hate crimes.

Between November 7 and November 14, three other people were arrested and charged in connection with the incident.

The university suspended all accused students. Some of them were members of a fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE), which also expelled them. The university also suspended the SAE chapter on campus.