- Woman sexually assaulted at Chicago fraternity party.
- Men reportedly cheered, waited outside bathroom during assault.
- Police investigating; person of interest identified by university.
In a shocking incident at a university in the United States, a 21-year-old woman was sexually assaulted inside a bathroom. According to the New York Post, there were multiple accused in the incident, and shockingly, all were cheering outside the bathroom and waiting for their turn when the victim was raped.
The local media reported that the Chicago Police are investigating the case involving a woman at a fraternity party near the University of Chicago. According to media reports, the woman was allegedly sexually assaulted inside a bathroom while several men gathered outside, cheering and making vulgar remarks.
The incident reportedly took place early Sunday morning at the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house in the university's Hyde Park neighbourhood. The woman is not a student at the university. Police confirmed that she reported the incident and received hospital treatment. No charges had been filed as of Wednesday, although university officials said a person of interest had been identified.
Friends intervene during assault
According to reports citing a Chicago police document, the woman had attended the party with two friends after seeing it advertised on the fraternity's Instagram account. She had reportedly been drinking and dancing before she began feeling unwell.
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One of her friends, Mia Lara, told the New York Post that she searched for the woman after she disappeared from the party. Lara allegedly discovered a group of men gathered outside a locked basement bathroom. They were reportedly making comments such as, "When's my turn?" and "I want to go in there."
The woman’s friends reportedly faced resistance while attempting to enter the bathroom. One man allegedly grabbed a friend by the hair, while the other worked to unlock the door.
Once inside, they found the woman partially undressed and appearing to be not fully conscious, with a man beside her. Lara said the woman was distressed and repeatedly pleaded for the situation to stop.
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The friend later confronted the man outside the house. According to her account, he allegedly responded that the woman had wanted it before fleeing the scene.
Fraternity denies members' involvement
The Alpha Epsilon Pi chapter said its members were alerted by one of the woman’s friends and immediately responded. The fraternity stated that the party was shut down and that members assisted the woman until authorities arrived.
A spokesperson for the organisation’s national body said there was no evidence that fraternity members participated in or knowingly facilitated the alleged assault. The suspect was reportedly not affiliated with the university.
University officials confirmed that the person of interest had been identified and barred from campus while the investigation continued.