False Hate-Crime Report at UNC Chapel Hill

Officials at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announced Tuesday that the report about an antigay hate crime that left a student with severe burns on his wrist was false.

According to The News & Observer of Raleigh, the university likely will file charges against Quinn Matney, the freshman who said the attack took place last week. He claimed that an unknown male expressed an antigay slur while pressing a hot piece of metal into his flesh. Matney reported that he received third- and fourth-degree burns, with possible permanent nerve and tendon damage.

However, according to TheNews & Observer, chancellor Holden Thorp said in a statement released Tuesday evening, "The Department of Public Safety has determined that the alleged aggravated assault reported to campus last night did not occur. That report, filed with campus police on April 5, was false. The university will not report it as a hate crime."

Matney could not be reached for comment, the newspaper reported.