Previous coverage: Student speaks about prayer disruption at USF

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — In a disturbing development at the University of South Florida, authorities have now identified the third individual involved in a troubling incident where three men were seen harassing Muslim students during prayer. This incident, captured on video, shows the men directing hostile remarks at the students.

The footage, recorded on a cellphone by members of the Muslim Students Association at USF, depicts the men pointing and shouting during the students’ outdoor prayer session at the Collins Boulevard Parking Facility. The students reported that the men hurled Islamophobic slurs, referring to them as “terrorists” and demanding they “go back to Mecca.”

The University of South Florida Police Department has been actively investigating the incident. On Saturday, they announced the identification of the third man in the video as Ricardo Yepez, a 28-year-old Tampa resident with no ties to the university. This identification marks a significant step forward in addressing the distressing event that has drawn attention and concern from the community.

On Saturday, detectives with the University of South Florida Police Department (SFPD) said they identified the third man in the video as Ricardo Yepez, 28, a Tampa native who has no affiliation with USF.

SFPD filed charges against Yepez under Florida Statute 871.071 for disturbing schools and religious assemblies, which will be upgraded to a felony hate crime. They also filed charges for disrupting a school or lawful assembly and disorderly conduct.

The two other men involved in the incident were identified earlier this week, according to the University’s police department.

Police said in addition to Yepez, they also filed hate crime charges against Christopher Svochak, 40, and Richard Penskoski, 49.

Officials say both men have no known local addresses in the Tampa Bay area and, like Yepez, have no affiliation with USF.