Family Of Beating Victim Say Attack Was A Hate Crime
HOLLYWOOD (CBSLA.com) — The family of a man hospitalized after being beaten by a group of men say their brother was the victim of a hate crime.
Victor Diego, 22, was leaving his job at Beso Restaurant in Hollywood Thursday night when his sisters say he was attacked on Hollywood Blvd near the Metro station.
Diego, who is gay and transgender, was dressed up to hang out with friends.
"Sometimes men try to talk to him and they get humiliated in front of their friends when they realize it's a man," said his sister, Virginia Diego.
"Because he looks really good, he looks like a woman, you couldn't tell the difference," she said.
According to Virginia, her brother was jumped by a group of men who attacked him from behind. He reportedly sustained two fractured ribs, a shattered cheekbone and a broken jaw.
His sister said the assailants kicked him in his temple, which will require surgery.
"He was basically left for dead just because of who he is," said Virginia.
According to Victor Diego's sisters, the Los Angeles Police Department's Hollywood Division is now investigating the beating as a hate crime.
"We don't want this to happen to anybody else," said Diego's sister.
"We just want somebody to come forward and let us know what they saw. He deserves justice," she said.
