The Planet Fitness franchise group canceled the suspect’s membership

NEED TO KNOW

  • Laquan Holland, 40, is accused of sexual assault in a Cambridge, Mass., Planet Fitness women’s locker room on Thursday, Oct. 1
  • A gym employee intervened and called authorities after the incident involving Holland and the woman
  • One victim was evaluated at a hospital, and the franchise group canceled Holland’s membership

A man is accused of sexually assaulting multiple people in a locker room at a Planet Fitness in Cambridge, Mass., on Thursday, Oct. 1.

Laquan Holland, 40, allegedly committed sexual assault in the gym’s women’s locker room around 9 a.m., local time, The Boston Globe reported, citing Cambridge police. The gym is a private business that resides on the bottom floor of Lesley University’s University Hall.

An insider tells PEOPLE that a male member entered the gym with a female guest, and an alleged incident occurred between them. A gym crew member intervened and called the authorities.

Holland allegedly went into the locker room and assaulted multiple people, the Globe, CBS Boston and NBC Boston reported, citing police.

Authorities responded to the scene and identified Holland as the suspect. One victim was transported to a hospital for evaluation, per CBS News.

The Planet Fitness franchise group canceled Holland’s membership, a spokesperson said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.

“Planet Fitness is committed to providing a safe environment for all,” the statement continued. The franchise group “is working with local law enforcement to support their investigation into this matter.”

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Frequent gym attendees are now concerned for their safety. Dr. Yena Do told NBC 10 that before this incident she “always felt safe” at the gym.

“Now that I’ve heard that this had happened, I’ll definitely have to look behind my back, which is not a great feeling,” Do said. “I’m going there to work out, undressing out of my scrubs and get into my workout clothes. I’m definitely going to think about that.”

Sophia Holloway, a Lesley University student, echoed the sentiment, calling the incident “horrible” and “a big tragedy.”

“Everyone should be able to feel safe and secure wherever they are. Women out here face such hardships, and I think that the world needs to know that it’s not OK,” Holloway told NBC 10.

PEOPLE reached out to the Cambridge Police Department for comment.

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