Four men have been indicted on attempted murder and gang assault charges in a brutal attack earlier this month that left a freshman Alfred (N.Y.) State College student in a coma.
The indictment hands down single counts of second-degree attempted murder and first-degree gang assault, both class B violent felonies, against Moses N. Scarborough, 19, William J. Blye, 20, Jayson E. Lewis, 20, and Eric R. Plante, 19, all of Elmira, N.Y., according to the office of Allegany County (N.Y.) District Attorney Keith Slep.
The four remained held in Allegany County Jail after their arrest in the attack on Derek Correa, a 2023 graduate of Bradford Area High School and former Owls soccer player.
A GoFundMe effort is ongoing for Correa, who supporters said earlier this week is fighting for his life after the attack allegedly by the four men, who are not college students.
“Derek … has been the victim of a senseless and brutal attack,” the GoFundMe page narrative stated. “On early morning Sunday, Oct. 15, he was ambushed by four men that followed Derek onto campus while he was walking back to his dorm and violently and brutally attacked him for no reason leaving him severely injured. Derek has severe trauma to his face and brain and is in a coma.”
Alerted by a witness, Alfred State University Police were first to respond, taking all four of Correa’s alleged attackers into custody.
Meanwhile, the Alfred Village Police Department has filed additional charges against the four suspects and arrest warrants are being readied, Chief Paul Griffith told The Evening Tribune of Hornell, N.Y.
The village charges will likely be misdemeanor counts and are in connection with previous violent encounters the suspects allegedly had in Alfred during the hours and days leading up to Oct. 15, Griffith told the Evening Tribune.
The chief said the charges are based on witnesses who have come forward and online video reviewed by police.
The GoFundMe page, “Derek Correa’s fight for recovery,” says Correa’s family has been at his side since the incident, incurring expenses for meals, travel, lodging and medical care.
The effort had raised more than $49,000 of its $50,000 goal as of Friday afternoon. The page has been shared hundreds of times across social media.
Another fundraiser, a takeout spaghetti dinner, is set for 3 to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at the ASC campus in Wellsville, 2530 River Road.
In a video posted to YouTube, Alfred State President Dr. Steven Mauro said, “We have been staying in close touch with Derek’s family to make sure they know and can feel our unwavering support for Derek.”
Correa had just started his studies at Alfred State in August, pursuing a degree in CNC machining.
