Police Investigating Laguna Beach Beating as a Hate Crime

Two assailants attacked a man in broad daylight Saturday, hurling anti-gay epithets and beating him, apparently in a dispute over money that police are investigating as a hate crime, authorities said.

Donald Nichols, 18, of Laguna Beach and a 16-year-old suspect were arrested later in the day on suspicion of robbery and assault with a deadly weapon, Detective Jason Kravetz said.

The victim, identified only as a Laguna Beach man in his 30s, was approached from behind about 1:30 p.m. while he walking south on the sidewalk in the 700 block of Coast Highway, Kravetz said. Nichols pulled the man to the ground, then was joined in the assault by the 16-year-old who kicked the victim in the head, Kravetz said.

Kravetz said the victim and witnesses reported that the assailants yelled anti-gay epithets during the beating, which went on for several minutes. He said the suspects and victim knew each other and apparently were engaged in a dispute over money. The assailants robbed the victim, but Kravetz would not say how much money was taken.

A man who witnessed the attack then came out of a nearby business and threatened to call the police, Kravetz said. The suspects fled in a Honda that was parked nearby.

A woman who witnessed the attack told police she recognized Nichols as someone with whom she had attended Laguna Beach High School, Kravetz said. Nichols was arrested at his home about two hours later.

The 16-year-old, a Laguna Beach High School student, was arrested about 7:30 Saturday night as he was driving on Coast Highway near the site of the attack, Kravetz said.

Kravetz said police will recommend to the district attorney’s office that the assault be prosecuted as a hate crime.

The victim suffered cuts and bruises but declined medical attention, the detective said.

The attack was the second recent one in Laguna Beach that police investigated as a hate crime. In September, two tourists from Salt Lake City were attacked and robbed while walking on a stretch of beach. Police said the assailants uttered an anti-gay slur during the attack and shots were fired.

Those attackers were never found, but police said the two attacks do not appear to be related.