Five Massachusetts college students are scheduled to appear in court on Thursday on serious charges stemming from a bizarre incident inspired by a TikTok trend known as “Catch a Predator.” The students, all teenagers attending Assumption University in Worcester, are accused of plotting to lure a man via a dating app and then assaulting him as part of a “public shaming” stunt.

The students face multiple charges including conspiracy and kidnapping, with one female student, Kelsy Brainard, also facing charges of witness intimidation. Brainard allegedly communicated with the victim through her Tinder account. Additionally, another male student reportedly faces charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. A sixth student has been charged as a juvenile, with records kept confidential.

The victim, a 22-year-old active-duty military service member, was in town for his grandmother’s funeral when he met one of the students online. According to [AP News](https://apnews.com/article/catch-a-predator-tiktok-students-arrested-massachusetts-96800f775c3ae6a028e845eced4c9e4a), he mentioned that he “just wanted to be around people that were happy.” He was summoned to the campus, only to be confronted by a large group of students who accused him of being a sexual predator.

In a startling turn of events, the victim reported being chased by at least 25 students who allegedly punched him and slammed his car door as he attempted to escape. Surveillance footage appears to show the group filming the entire incident, capturing the students “laughing and high-fiving,” suggesting that it was a premeditated act rather than a spontaneous reaction.

The police investigation revealed that there was no evidence supporting the accusations against the victim. In fact, it was concluded that the woman had fabricated claims of victimization against him after the incident, asserting false narratives that he was a threat to the campus community.

The students have been prohibited from contacting the victim as the case proceeds, with their next court appearance scheduled for March 28 for a pretrial conference. Legal representatives for the defendants have expressed varying degrees of optimism regarding the outcome of the case. Lawyer Christopher Todd commented, “We’re just looking forward to having the process play out,” while asserting the innocence of his client.

As this case progresses, it raises significant questions about online behavior, social media’s influence on personal interactions, and the perception of accountability among young individuals in a dormitory setting.[LA Times] [The Guardian]