Suspects in Alfred State attack charged with attempted murder, more pending. What we know

Neal Simon, Hornell Evening Tribune
Updated ·2 min read

An Allegany County grand jury has indicted the four men accused of assaulting and seriously injuring an Alfred State College student earlier this month with attempted murder.

An indictment returned Wednesday charges four suspects — all from Elmira — with second-degree attempted murder and first-degree gang assault in connection to the incident Oct. 15 on the college campus.

Indicted by the grand jury were:

  • Eric R. Plante, 19.

  • Jayson E. Lewis, 20.

  • William J. Blye, 20.

  • Moses N. Scharborough, 19.

Derek Correa, a first-year college student and 2023 graduate of Bradford (Pa.) Area High School, sustained severe head injuries in the early morning attack on campus, Alfred State officials said.

Derek Correa
Derek Correa

Alfred State President Dr. Steven Mauro said Saturday that Correa is hospitalized, in a coma and "fighting for his life."

Mauro called the incident a "senseless act” of violence.

College officials could provide no further information on Correa's condition Wednesday. Alfred State referred people to a GoFundMe drive to support Correa's family for updated medical news, although there have been no new posts this week.

More charges filed by Alfred police as witnesses come forward

Alfred State College University Police arrested the suspects after responding to the incident at about 1 a.m., charging each initially with first-degree gang assault.

The men have made at least one appearance in Alfred Village Court and remain in custody at the Allegany County jail, law enforcement officials said.

Meanwhile, the Alfred Village Police Department has filed additional charges against the suspects and arrest warrants are being readied, according to Chief Paul Griffith.

"We are going to be arresting these guys in the near future and they will be arraigned here in court at some point," Griffith said.

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The village charges, which Griffith indicated will likely be misdemeanor counts, are in connection with previous violent encounters the suspects allegedly had in Alfred during the hours and days leading up to Oct. 15.

Griffith said the charges are based on witnesses who have come forward and online video reviewed by police.

“They have definitely been coming to Alfred and picking fights with people for awhile," Griffith alleged.

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This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Elmira men indicted for attempted murder in assault of Alfred student