LBPD Actively Investigating As Possible Hate Crime Assault/Battery On Two Men, Oct. 31, Area Cherry Ave./4th St.

LBPD Public Information Officer Nancy Pratt tells LBReport.com that on Oct. 31 at roughly 8:10 p.m., LBPD responded to a battery call in the area of 4th St/Cherry Ave.

• [LBPD provided information]Police learned that two adult male subjects were approached by two male suspects and assaulted. Both victims were transported to a local hospital with moderate injuries.

• Descriptions of the suspects who had fled on foot were aired over the police radio.

• Within a few minutes of the crime, a police unit responding to the area observed two subjects matching the suspect descriptions in the area of 3rd Street & Cherry Avenue and detained them.

• Police continued their investigation and ultimately arrested both individuals

• The two male suspects are only being identified at this time as a 19-year-old and a 27-year-old, both LB residents.

• Violent Crimes detectives are actively investigating this incident as a hate crime

• Detectives are in the process of interviewing several independent witnesses.

• At this time, detectives do not believe this incident to be connected to any other previously reported incident.

• Anyone who may have any information regarding this incident is urged to contact Violent Crimes Detective Jackie Bezart at (562) 570-7250

• Anonymous tips may be submitted via text or web by visiting www.tipsoft.com

• The Long Beach Police Department will continue to work with community groups, the City’s Hate Crime Response Team and the Human Dignity Coordinator to address concerns from the victims and the community.

UPDATE: Victims In 4th/Cherry Oct. 31 Assault/Battery Are Two Men (Ages Early 50s and Early 60s), Say A Gay Slur Was Used Multiple Times
by Joe Mello, LBReport.com Community Correspondent

Further as we learn it on LBReport.com.