Six Massachusetts college students face charges after luring a military service member via a dating app and assaulting him in a “Catch a Predator”-inspired social media stunt.
The incident occurred at Assumption University, where surveillance footage revealed the group chasing and attacking the man while recording the incident.
The victim, attending a funeral in the area, was falsely accused of seeking underage girls. Campus police debunked the claims, citing fabricated reports and conspiracy to mimic TikTok trends.
Charges include kidnapping, conspiracy, and assault. University officials condemned the behavior as deeply counter to institutional values, especially given the victim’s military service.

