Five students from a private Catholic university in Massachusetts are facing serious charges after they allegedly tricked a man into coming to their campus, falsely accused him of trying to meet an underage girl for sex, and then attacked him while recording the incident.
The group claimed they were imitating a TikTok trend called “To Catch a Predator.”.. Continue reading here ▶
The students, aged 18 and 19, are from Assumption University. They were charged on December 4 with kidnapping and conspiracy for the incident, which happened on October 1 in Worcester.
One student also faces charges of witness intimidation, while another is charged with assault and battery using a dangerous weapon.
Police say the group used the dating app Tinder to lure the man to the campus. According to reports, their goal was to mimic a TikTok trend where people lure suspected sexual predators to a location, confront them, and sometimes attack them or call the police.
When the man arrived at a lounge in the university’s Alumni Hall, students hiding nearby jumped out, grabbed him, and accused him of being a predator. The man told police the group called him a pedophile and claimed he was there to meet a 17-year-old girl. He managed to escape but was chased by about 25 people who attacked him. He eventually got to his car, drove away, and called the police.
Court documents show that after the attack, the students returned to the lounge, laughing and celebrating. One of the female students later told police a “creepy guy” had come to campus to meet an underage girl, but police found this claim to be false. They believe she made up the story to cover up the group’s actions.
One of the defendants told police the group was inspired by shows like *To Catch a Predator*, where host Chris Hansen confronts men trying to meet minors and gets them arrested. However, the student admitted that things “got out of hand and went bad.”
The victim told police he was visiting the area for his grandmother’s funeral and used Tinder to find companionship. A female student had invited him to campus, suggesting they could meet up.
In response to the incident, Assumption University issued a statement condemning the students’ actions, calling them “abhorrent and antithetical to the university’s mission and values.” The school emphasized its commitment to creating a safe and respectful environment for everyone on campus, including visitors.
While they did not comment on the ongoing disciplinary process, they affirmed their commitment to addressing all forms of violence and misconduct.
