Monday, October 31, 2016
Three men harassed and then beat a Somali man in the community of Redwood Village Sunday afternoon, and police are investigating the attack as a hate crime, San Diego police said.
The men were inside Zappy Pizza, a restaurant on University Avenue, when a group of Somali men and women walked in about 3:40 p.m.
The men, who were white and in their 30s, started making degrading comments to the group based on their race and religion, San Diego police Officer Dino Delimitros said.
A fight broke out, and one of the men, armed with brass knuckles, punched one of the Somali men. Another assailant then hit the same Somali man over the head with a chair while he was on the ground, Delimitros said.
The victim, in his late teens or early 20s, suffered cuts and bruises to his head. He refused medical treatment, police said.
Officers found the three suspects soon after the fight. Two were arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and the other on suspicion of battery. All face a hate crime charge.