WeHo Assault Being Investigated as Possible Hate Crime: LASD

A Tuesday morning assault in West Hollywood was being investigated as a possible hate crime, authorities said Thursday.

As three men attacked a man near the intersection of Fairfax Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard, they made derogatory remarks about his race and sexual orientation, said a detective with the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department.

The victim, a black man, had gotten off the bus and was crossing the street at about 2:45 a.m. when he heard the slurs being yelled by the men, who had gotten out of their car, sheriff's deputies said. Those men punched him in the head, knocking him over and out of consciousness.

He was taken to a hospital, while the assailants fled the scene and haven't been caught, deputies said.

Anyone who has a similar experience, even just comments yelled from a passing car, should report them to police, detectives said, as it can help determine if this attack is a hate crime and if the assailants have harassed or assaulted others.

City News Service contributed to this report.

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