7 Black Boys Accused Of Hate Crime In Palmdale After Attack On Latino Teen
PALMDALE (CBS) — Authorities say they've taken seven black youths into custody on suspicion of attacking and severely injuring a Latino teenager as he walked home from school in Palmdale.
The fight happened March 14 about 4 p.m. near Cactus Middle School, the Los Angeles Times reported.
According to a written report, the 15-year-old Latino boy was approached by up to 10 male black juveniles who challenged him to a fight. They surrounded him and began punching him while several others watched, the report said.
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The Latino boy reportedly fell as he tried to defend himself, and the suspects continued "punching and kicking him in the face and head," the Times reported.
The boy eventually fled and had to be treated at a hospital for multiple kicks to his head and will have to have dental surgery to repair several teeth that he lost during the attack.
The Times said witnesses identified three of the suspects by March 23.
On Wednesday, detectives detained seven juveniles who were identified in a video of the assault, which was posted on a public website, according to the newspaper.
The suspects range in age from 13 to 16 years old and face charges of assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury and committing a hate crime, the Times reported.
