Massachusetts College Students Charged in TikTok-Inspired Attack on Military Service Member

Six students allegedly lured a U.S. soldier to campus under false pretenses, leading to assault and kidnapping charges.

The incident occurred at Assumption University in Worcester, Massachusetts, where students staged an attack inspired by a TikTok trend mimicking 'To Catch a Predator.'
The victim, a 22-year-old active-duty service member, was falsely accused of seeking to meet a minor and was physically assaulted after being lured to campus via Tinder.
Campus surveillance footage and Tinder messages confirmed the victim believed he was meeting an 18-year-old, and no evidence supported claims against him.
Five adult students face charges including kidnapping, conspiracy, and assault, while a sixth student, a minor, is also implicated in the case.
The university president condemned the attack as 'abhorrent' and emphasized the victim’s service to the country while criminal proceedings are set to begin on January 16.