A University of California Los Angeles student was shot by someone BB gun on Sunday in what law enforcement is investigating as a hate crime investigation.
The shooting occurred at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday as the student was walking on De Neve Drive near Riber Hall, according to the UCLA Police Department. There, a vehicle approached the victim and a passenger in the car yelled a homophobic slur before shooting the student under his eye with a BB gun.
The vehicle took off following the hateful encounter.
UCLA police said the driver was a male who wore a black ski mask. A detailed description of the passenger was not immediately available, though officials did say he was a male. The suspect vehicle was described as a white sedan.
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In a statement released to students, the university's LGBTQ Campus Resource Center said it was "distressed" to learn of the attack.
"During this time of increased polarization, we call on all members of the UCLA community and our allies to openly affirm the LGBTQIA+ community and condemn all acts of discrimination and aggression," the statement said. "We unequivocally reject violence, bigotry, or hate directed towards the LGBTQIA+ community or any other member of our campus and we remain committed to serving all faculty, staff, and students who are affected by this incident. Harassment, discrimination, and violence of any kind are antithetical to UCLA’s values and the welcoming and inclusive campus community our center aims to cultivate."
The investigation is ongoing.
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Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the UCLA Police Department at 310-825-1491.
