Massachusetts Students Charged in TikTok-Inspired 'Catch a Predator' Plot

Six Assumption University students allegedly lured an active-duty soldier to campus, falsely accused him of predatory behavior, and assaulted him as part of a staged social media stunt.

The accused students, aged 18 to 19, face conspiracy and kidnapping charges, with additional charges for assault and witness intimidation for two individuals.
The victim, a 22-year-old active-duty military member, was in Worcester for his grandmother's funeral and believed he was meeting an 18-year-old woman he connected with on Tinder.
Police say the students staged the encounter to participate in a TikTok trend inspired by the TV show 'To Catch a Predator,' falsely labeling the man a pedophile.
Surveillance footage and videos shared online revealed the students' actions, showing them laughing and celebrating the staged event, contradicting their claims of self-defense.
The university president condemned the incident as contrary to the institution's values, and the students are scheduled for a pretrial hearing on March 28.