East Carolina University Investigates Alleged Hate Crime; Two Females Perceived To Be Gay Assaulted

East Carolina University police have arrested 18 year old Bryan Berg, an undergraduate, and are still searching for another male in connection to an alleged assault of two female outside a dormitory Friday, an 18 and 19 year old, the 18 year old punched in the jaw, according to a report from the Daily Reflector. The two women are not from the university, the 19 year old was taken to hospital, treated, and released; the second, an 18 year old, remains in hospital with a broken jaw. Officers continue to investigate trying to determine if the assault should be characterized as a hate because of the perceived sexual orientation of the women, adding that comments may have been prior to the assault. Assistant Chief Dawn Tevepaugh said “We have to look at all the elements of the incident to see if they meet the federal requirements to be classified as a hate crime, including what was said and the actions that occurred. At this time, we believe it was an isolated incident.”