Joseph Paul

jpaul@jconline.com

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Two Purdue University students have come forward accusing four football players of sexually assaulting them in October.

The accusations — related to an Oct. 13 incident at an off-campus residence — were made public Wednesday in a news release from Massillamany & Jeter LLP, a Fishers-based law firm representing the students.

The Journal & Courier reported at the time that West Lafayette Police Department was investigating a report of a sexual assault that occurred at 3:30 a.m. in the 700 block of Northwestern Avenue. The alleged sexual assault was one five such incidents reported to WLPD in a span of less than four days, according to reports by the J&C.

WLPD Capt. David Van Vactor confirmed on Wednesday that the investigation involved four Purdue student-athletes, all of whom were cooperative when interviewed by police. The Journal & Courier on Wednesday obtained police reports related to the investigation that contained their statements.

The two women told police they were drinking wine at their apartment when one began messaging a football player about having a threesome. Eventually, he picked picked them up and took them to a residence in the 800 block of Hayes Street in West Lafayette.

There, investigators say, they reportedly drank more alcohol and smoked marijuana with four football players before the women asked for a ride to a nearby sorority house. By 12:30 a.m., the females requested a ride back to the Hayes Street apartment, according to the police report.

The women told police they began having sex with two of the football players in a bedroom upstairs. After several minutes, the other two men in the room at the time initiated unwanted sex with them, they said. When questioned by police, the football players said they believed the sex was consensual but said, however, that one of the women asked one of the men to stop, and he did.

In separate statements to investigators, all parties said nobody was intoxicated to the point of being incapacitated that night.

The reports were forwarded to the Tippecanoe County Prosecutor's Office, which said on Wednesday that no criminal charges were filed after a review of evidence, according to a statement from Prosecutor Pat Harrington.

Julie Rosa, assistant vice president for strategic communications at Purdue, confirmed the four athletes have been suspended from the football team and are under investigation by the university.

"Under Title IX, Purdue is required to conduct an internal investigation of any allegations of sexual assault," Rosa said when asked what the university was investigating.

The Journal & Courier is not naming the athletes because they have not been arrested or charged.

"Purdue University takes very seriously all reports of sexual assault," Rosa said in an email statement. "The university acted immediately to initiate an investigation upon receiving allegations from two female Purdue students relating to an incident on October 13, 2016."

Asked last month to explain two of the players’ absence, then-coach Darrell Hazell said there were “some personal conduct things we have to work through.” Interim coach Gerad Parker said Wednesday he was not made aware of the situation until he was promoted to his current position.

Parker said all four players remain suspended pending the ongoing university investigation. He said they are not involved in any football activities.

In a news release, attorney Mario Massillimany called on Purdue to expedite expulsion proceedings against the four athletes.

"School officials must move quickly to hold these players accountable for their actions and show these victims that their voices are being heard,” he said.

An additional student has come forward citing a similar situation involving Purdue football players, the release states.

“If there are others out there who have been victimized in this manner, we encourage them to contact us to get the justice they deserve," Massillimany said.

Call J&C reporter Joseph Paul at 765-420-5339, email him at jpaul@jconline.com or follow him on Twitter:@JosephPaulJC.

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