Long Beach Police Department said Wednesday afternoon that it is investigating as a possible hate crime the attack Monday night of a gay man outside a well-known Belmont Heights gay bar called The Silver Fox.
The victim, identified by KNBC as a San Dimas film student, was hospitalized while police said other victims were treated at the scene. The station reported that four U.S. Marines were arrested, although Long Beach police spokeswoman Nancy Pratt would not release the arrestees' names nor describe them, citing "the investigation."
The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office said it has not received the case from Long Beach detectives, who said they intend to file charges by September 11. Officials at the Camp Pendleton marine base have declined comment unless charges have been filed.
Read Patch's prior story here.
From Long Beach Police Department Wednesday:
Here is the info we have released to this point. We have not released any names due to the ongoing investigation. You can check back with us a little later see if our investigation will allow us to release the names.
- On Monday, September 3, 2012 at approximately 2:00 a.m., Long Beach police responded to the area of 4th Street and Redondo Avenue in response to a physical altercation outside of a bar involving several subjects
- Based on the preliminary investigation, it was determined that an assault had occurred to a male adult by several male suspects after they had left the establishment
- During the assault, two other individuals who came to the aid of the victim were also assaulted
- When police arrived, they detained the suspects and subsequently placed them under arrest for assault
- One of the victims was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries
- The other victims sustained either minor or no injuries
- The Long Beach Police Department is handling this case and are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime
- It was determined that the suspects are members of the Marine Corp. and we are cooperating with their authorities as they conduct their independent investigation
- The case will be presented to the LA County DA's Office on or before September 11
- Anyone who may have information relating to this investigation should contact Violent Crimes Detective Ben Vargas at (562) 570-7250. Anonymous tips may be submitted via text or web by visiting www.tipsoft.com
