Boy Arrested In Man's Beating At Hawthorne Metro Green Line Station
HAWTHORNE (CBSLA.com) — A boy was arrested and another suspect was being sought Tuesday in connection with the beating of a 43-year-old man at the Hawthorne Metro Green Line Station.
The incident happened at 9:45 p.m. on Feb. 17, according to the sheriff's Transit Services Bureau.
Two boys approached the victim, who was standing on the sidewalk, and started to ask questions that led the man to believe he was going to be robbed, according to authorities.
The suspects began to punch and kick the victim, even using their skateboards at one point.
The attack stopped after a witness yelled that he was going to call the cops.
One of the suspects then used a racial slur to say that blacks "were not welcome around here" to the witness and the victim, the transit bureau said.
The boys then fled.
With the help of the victim and witness, detectives searched one of the suspect's homes and found evidence that linked him to the crime.
The boy was booked for assault with a deadly weapon.
Other charges may be sought in the case.
"The district attorney is looking into the fact that he (the suspect) allegedly used a racial slur while beating the victim, and allegedly used that same slur to attempt to intimidate the witness," Det. Keith Schumaker of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said.
The district attorney's office may also file a hate crime enhancement, according to Schumaker.
The second suspect was described as being between 15 to 19, 5 feet 10 inches tall and 140 pounds. He was wearing a black striped shirt, black pants and a black jacket.
Anyone with information on the attack was asked to call Det. Schumaker at (323) 563-5000.
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