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Family of College Student Killed Outside OC Bar Seeks Hate Crime Investigation

Craig Tanber, 37, a prominent Orange County white supremacist gang member was charged with murder for the fatal stabbing.

The family of an Iranian-American college student who was stabbed to death outside a Laguna Niguel California, bar asked for authorities to investigate his death as a hate crime.

Shayan Mazroei, 22, was fatally stabbed in his upper body during a fight at Patsy's Irish Pub on Sept. 8.

Now, Mazroei's mother says she is in mourning for the loss of her only son, a student at Saddleback College.

The fight started after a woman began hurling insults at Mazroei, family and friends said. 

Craig Tanber, 37, a prominent Orange County white supremacist gang member, was charged with murder for the fatal stabbing.

At a news conference Monday, Mazroei's attorney Neama Rahmani said the college student was approached by a woman inside the bar.

That's when the two took a heated discussion outside.

Rahmani said the woman used racial slurs against Mazroei before Tanber allegedly punched and stabbed him in the chest.

"She called Shayan a terrorist and spit on Shayan before Tanber repeatedly stabbed Shayan to death," said Rahmani.

Deputy District Attorney Larry Yellin, however, said it wasn't Tanber who made the racial comments.

"There is evidence of racism, but there is no evidence of a crime committed by her hate crime or otherwise that started the incident," Yellin said.

Tanber is facing first-degree murder charges. If convicted of Mazroei's murder, Tanber would face up to 76 years to life in prison due to a third strike offense.

Mazroei's family is calling for a hate crime investigation and also seeks charges for the woman involved.

A vigil for Mazroei was scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday outside the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article identified Larry Yellin as Craig Tanber's attorney. Yellin is the Orange County senior deputy district attorney.

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