"The 22-year-old student tearfully admitted he made the story up..."
I hate to see a grown man cry OVER BS THAT HE MADE UP!
I think you've made the common mistake of supposing that an over-18 college student would qualify as an "adult".
Unless they're studying physics or engineering, the whole purpose of going to college is to delay the onset of adulthood until one is allowed to legally drink.
I am sure the left think he is not a grown man, but a child who did a sloppy youthful prank.