A teenager was lured to a remote area of Massachusetts by someone he met on the dating app Grindr and then viciously beaten by four other teens.
The victim, who has not been named, told investigators he had made contact with an individual on Grindr and arranged to meet them on Sunday night at a local reservoir, where they would smoke marijuana.
Instead, the victim said that after he, his online acquaintance, and another person drove to the nearby woods in Haverhill, two other cars pulled up behind them, according to Fox 25 TV.
Haverhill is a community located approximately 35 miles north of Boston.
The two teens who were in the car that initially picked up the victim were identified by authorities as Lorenco Gjegji, 19, and Joshua Blanchard, 18, both of Haverhill.
Lorenco Gjegji (left), 19, met another teen on Grindr. Police say he and a friend, Joshua Blanchard (right), 18, both of Haverhill, Massachusetts, lured the teen to a remote wooded area and set up an ambush with three other accomplices
The five teens were arrested on charges of assault, armed robbery, and kidnapping. The image above shows Millvale Reservoir in Haverhill, where the alleged assault and robbery took place late Sunday night
A group of 18- and 19-year-olds then got out of the cars and dragged the victim out of his car.
They then allegedly beat him with a baton. The victim was also punched and kicked in the head, according to police.
They also stole the victim’s Nike Air Jordan sneakers, $140 in cash, and his cell phone, authorities said.
After the assault, they allegedly kidnapped the victim by driving him against his will to a nearby town, Lawrence, in an effort to get marijuana.
Afterward, the victim was dropped off back in Haverhill.
Gjegji and Blanchard are alleged to have planned and set up the ambush.
Their three alleged accomplices have been identified as Cade Ford (above), 18, of Haverhill; Joseph Clohisy, 19, of Haverhill; and Richard Pedro, 18, of Methuen. Ford and Pedro have reportedly acknowledged to police taking part in the ambush
It was Blanchard who was driving the 2006 Honda Accord, according to the Eagle-Tribune.
Gjegji was the teen who had met the victim on Grindr, a dating app geared toward the LGBT community, police say.
Their three alleged accomplices have been identified as Cade Ford, 18, of Haverhill; Joseph Clohisy, 19, of Haverhill; and Richard Pedro, 18, of Methuen.
Police opened up an investigation late Sunday after they were called to an area hospital where the victim was treated.
The victim had visible signs of violence. It was reported he may have suffered a concussion during the assault.
Police opened up an investigation late Sunday after they were called to an area hospital where the victim was treated. The victim had visible signs of violence. It was reported he may have suffered a concussion during the assault
Clohisy told police that the victim had ripped him off of more than two pounds of marijuana, it was reported.
He also told investigators that he brought a collapsible baton with him to attack the victim.
Clohisy told police that it was Pedro who was the first to assault the victim.
Both Ford and Pedro also were interviewed by police. They reportedly also acknowledged taking part in the ambush.
All five teens were arraigned on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, kidnapping, and armed robbery.
They have been held without bail.
A dangerousness hearing is scheduled for Friday. Under Massachusetts law, anyone charged with a felony could be held in jail until trial depending on the severity of the alleged crime.