"Group of College Students Attack Man in TikTok-Inspired Ambush, Police Report"

 A group in Massachusetts pursued a man who had been wrongly accused of being a sexual predator.

Jan. 7, 2025, 8:14 AM GMT+6

Six college students in Massachusetts are facing charges for allegedly luring an active-duty service member, whom they falsely accused of being a sexual predator, to their campus. There, a group of over two dozen people chased and assaulted him, authorities reported.

One of the charged students, 19-year-old Easton Randall, told police the plot was inspired by NBC's now-defunct program To Catch a Predator, which aired from 2004 to 2007. The program used undercover decoys and cameras to catch adults attempting to prey on minors. According to a statement, Randall described To Catch a Predator as a popular trend on TikTok. This kind of viral trend has also been linked to a similar case in Illinois, where 11 teens were charged for a comparable incident.

At Assumption University, the private Catholic institution in Worcester, where the accused students were enrolled, investigators found no evidence that the man had been attempting to engage with a minor. However, he was chased by a mob of 25 to 30 people, some of whom recorded the incident. The event involved a conspiracy with multiple allegations, including false imprisonment, assault, and battery, according to the university’s police sergeant.

The students involved, including Randall, were charged with kidnapping and conspiracy. Two others, Kelsy Brainard, 18, and Kevin Carroll, 18, faced additional charges—Brainard for intimidation and Carroll for assault with a dangerous weapon. Lawyers for Carroll and another defendant did not respond to requests for comment.

Assumption University’s President, Greg Weiner, condemned the students' actions as contrary to the institution's values, stating the behavior was “abhorrent” and emphasized the importance of students exercising sound judgment. The university immediately initiated an investigation and supported the criminal charges.

The victim's father, who confirmed his son is 22 and an active-duty service member, expressed confidence in the authorities’ handling of the case. He declined to provide details about his son's military branch but noted that the investigation appeared to be progressing well.

The incident unfolded on October 1, when Brainard allegedly claimed she had been contacted by a “creepy” person on Tinder, who she said was looking to meet a 17-year-old girl. Brainard texted Randall, who chased the individual away. However, the service member later told police that he had been messaging with Brainard because he wanted to be around happy people while attending his grandmother’s funeral. He said he believed he was meeting an 18-year-old woman, based on her Tinder profile. He was then ambushed by a mob of students, who accused him of being a pedophile and chased him across campus.

As detailed in security footage, the victim was chased, berated, and assaulted by the group. The videos confirmed the man’s account of being trapped, assaulted, and having his car door slammed on his head. Investigators later confirmed that the service member believed Brainard was 18, as indicated in her profile, but Brainard could not explain the underage accusation.

Randall admitted that he and others conspired to lure the victim to campus. He compared the scheme to To Catch a Predator, where predators are confronted, either to call the police or “kick their ass.” The show, which was canceled after three seasons, never advocated for violence but aimed to expose adults trying to meet minors for inappropriate purposes.

The group coordinated their actions by discussing their plans on an alumni chat, which rallied dozens of other students to participate in the attack.