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

(November 1, 2011) -- The two victims in the 4th Cherry Oct. 31 assault/battery -- now being actively investigated by LBPD as a possible hate crime (LBReport.com breaking coverage, click here) -- have told LBReport.com that they are men in early 50s and early 60s...and say a gay slur was used multiple times in the period leading up to and during the early evening attack that sent both of them to a hospital.

The victims said the two male assailants were with a group of people. One of the victims called the attack "brazen" with the number of people in the area at the time.

As previously reported by LBReport.com, LBPD says it has arrested two suspects, ages 19 and 27, both Long Beach residents.

LBPD Public Information Officer Nancy Pratt says the Department's violent crimes detectives are actively investigating what took place as a hate crime and detectives are in the process of interviewing several independent witnesses.

LBPD says at this time, detectives don't believe this incident is connected to any other previously reported incident.

LBPD says it "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."

Further as we learn it on LBReport.com.