Five Massachusetts college students are currently facing criminal charges for allegedly setting up a soldier to be ambushed on their school’s campus, following a TikTok trend inspired by “To Catch a Predator.” The incident involved a group of nearly 30 students who chased the man from a building at Assumption University after he was invited there by a student on Tinder. The criminal complaint, filed by campus police in Worcester District Court, states that the victim had no intention of meeting anyone underage. The student who invited him, 18-year-old Kelsy Brainard, had disclosed her age on her dating profile.
Moments before the altercation, the victim was seen watching a baseball game in the student lounge with Brainard, with no signs of inappropriate behavior, according to video evidence shared among students and reviewed by the police. Nevertheless, the group of students orchestrated a staged event to confront the man in the lounge, accusing him of being a sexual offender. They filmed the encounter on their phones as they verbally attacked and blocked him from leaving. When he managed to escape, he was pursued by 25 individuals.
Despite the victim’s efforts to leave, one unnamed minor student allegedly punched him in the head, while another student slammed his head into a car door once he reached his vehicle. The extent of the man’s injuries from the incident remains unclear. The students involved returned to the lounge shortly after the attack, appearing jovial and congratulating each other.
The soldier’s father revealed that his son, who serves in the Army and was deployed overseas shortly after the incident, was the target of the group’s actions. One of the students, 19-year-old Easton Randall, stated to the police that they were inspired by the television show “To Catch a Predator,” where men were confronted by host Chris Hansen after being lured to a location under false pretenses. The students purportedly sought to emulate the show by luring a sexual predator to expose or assault them.
Facing charges of kidnapping and conspiracy are Randall, Brainard, Isabella Trudeau, and Joaquin Smith, as reported by WCVB. Brainard also faces an additional intimidation charge, while Kevin Carroll, 18, who allegedly assaulted the victim by slamming his head into a car door, is charged with assault and battery with a deadly weapon. The lawyers for the students have not been identified, and the defendants themselves were not available for comment. Their court appearance is scheduled for January 16.
Assumption University President Greg Weiner condemned the incident, describing it as “abhorrent and against the values of Assumption University” in an official statement.
The Department of Public Safety promptly initiated an investigation following the reported attack. “This situation is particularly poignant as the victim is an active-duty military service member,” Weiner stated. “His commitment serves as a stark reminder of the sacrifices made by individuals who protect our freedoms, enabling us to access educational opportunities.”
Source: College students charged with ambushing US soldier in ‘To Catch a Predator’ TikTok scheme: police
