By Melvin Keldo, The Whetstone, Contributor

John Caughman after getting hit in the head with a bottle John Caughman after getting hit in the head with a bottle

Freshman John Caughman has already forgiven the person who hit him with a bottle near his left eye during Homecoming weekend.

“My parents spent two hours trying to find the person that did it,” Caughman said. “But I just said, Let it go. I don’t hold grudges, plus I forgave the person that attacked me.”

Caughman was hit during the early morning hours of Oct. 6 outside of College Center after brawls broke out.

“I was partying and I see a big crowd of people arguing,” said the 19-year-old freshman.  “I began to walk away from the crowd and as soon I turned around, I got hit with a bottle. I didn’t know it was a bottle at first, but I ended up with blood in my eyes, couldn’t see anything, and I just collapsed.

There were up to 275 people gathered after parties, said sophomore Teddy Marshall, 20.

“A large amount of people by Slaybugh and Cannon Hall gathered after many parties and events had ended,” he said.

Marshall was stunned when he saw Caughman get struck with a bottle in his face.

“A brawl breaks out and he happened to be caught too close to it and got hit by a bottle, which he wasn’t the target for,” he said. “After he got hit, he kind of stumbled away and soon after fell on the ground.”

After Caughman was hit, most people ran away from him.

“When he got hit, there was a great deal of commotion, people essentially scattered like roaches frantically to get away from the brawl,” he said.

Marshall said he saw women get trampled.

“From what I saw and as the fight went on, security came and began to spray many students with what seemed to be pepper spray,” he said.

The incident took freshman Ryan Smith, 19, one of Caughman’s teammates on Wesley’s basketball team, by surprise.

“I was in Maryland at the time when I heard the news,” Smith said. “Coach basically told us to be safe, smart and stay out of trouble. Jon is a very funny and talkative person; very people friendly.”

Caughman spent seven hours in the hospital.

“The first thing that came in my mind when I woke up in the hospital was I want something to eat,” Caughman said. “I was also worried if I had something serious with my head, wondering if I could play basketball again and hoping that my girl and my teammates were OK.”

Caughman said he won’t let the attack affect his first year here at Wesley.

“I don’t even think about it.” Caughman said. “I think of it as a lesson. It’s all in the past and like I said I don’t hold grudges.”