Seven students at Salisbury University in Maryland lured a person they targeted because of his sexual orientation to an off-campus apartment, where they spat on, held and beat him for several minutes, breaking a rib and causing bruises, according to the police.
The students, all men ranging in age from 18 to 20, face assault and hate crime charges in the attack, the Salisbury Police Department said in a news release on Tuesday.
The person attacked was not identified to protect their safety, though police said the individual is not a student at Salisbury University.
The students used a social media account to invite the person to the apartment under false pretenses on Oct. 15, the police said.