3 more charged in hate crime investigation involving Salisbury University students

WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. ( DC News Now ) — The Salisbury Police Department (SPD) announced on Thursday that three more people were charged in a hate crime investigation that involved Salisbury University students.

Police said three teenagers were arrested in connection to an assault that happened at an off-campus apartment complex in the 1400 block of University Terrace.

These arrests come just days after 12 Salisbury University students were charged and accused of targeting and beating a man because of his sexual orientation.

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During the investigation, police obtained cell phone footage and talked with witnesses. They discovered that the group used the social media platform, Grindr to lure the victim to the apartment "under false pretenses."

When the man entered the apartment, the group surrounded him and forced him to sit in a chair. Police said they then proceeded to kick, punch and even spit while calling him derogatory names.

As the investigation developed, detectives learned that Sean Antone, 19, of West Friendship, Md., Benjamin Brandenburg, 18, of Gylndon, Md., and Logan Clark, 19, of Severna Park, Md. also played an alleged role in the assault.

According to SPD, the charges mirrored the 12 students who are facing first-degree, false imprisonment, reckless endangerment and associated hate crime charges.

SPD said all of the known suspects have been taken into custody.

The investigation is ongoing.