Black teens accused of hate crime against Latino
PALMDALE, CA — Seven black teenagers are facing assault and hate crime charges after allegedly attacking a Latino youth as he walked home from school.
It happened around 4 p.m. March 14 near Cactus Middle School in the 3200 block of East Avenue R-8.
According to investigators, the 15-year old victim was approached by a group of up to 10 male black teenagers who challenged him to a fight.
“The suspects surrounded the victim and began punching him while several other juveniles watched,” according to Deputy Robbie Royster of the L.A. Co. Sheriff’s Department.
The victim reportedly fell to the ground while trying to defend himself and the suspects allegedly continued to beat him “by punching and kicking him in the face and head,” Royster said.
The victim was eventually able to get away, but was later hospitalized for multiple head wounds, including shoe impressions left in his skin.
The victim is also undergoing surgery to repair several of his teeth which were kicked out during the attack.
Detectives were able to identify the alleged attackers from a video of the assault, which was posted to YouTube.
The video has since been taken off of YouTube by the person who posted it.
The video is not being released by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
The suspects range in age from 13 to 16 years old and were arrested for “assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury and committing a hate crime,” Royster said.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Palmdale Sheriff’s Station investigators at 661-272-2400.
Source: Los Angeles Times Image: Black Radio Network 31 March 2012
12:13a.m. P.D.T.