Race-Related Violence Continues in Antelope Valley

In the fourth suspected race-related attack in the Antelope Valley in eight days, a 15-year-old white youth was kicked in the back in a Lancaster supermarket by a black teenager who shouted “You skinheads!” at him and two companions, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said Tuesday.

The attack occurred at the Max Foods store on Avenue I at 6:54 p.m. Monday, Sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Nelson said. The boy suffered minor bruises but did not require medical treatment.

An African American male, who appeared to be about 16 or 17, approached the victim, his 16-year-old friend and the friend’s 43-year-old mother as they prepared to go into the store, Nelson said.

Without provocation, deputies said, the suspect began cursing and shouting at the trio.

The family tried to ignore him, but the youth cornered the 15-year-old in the store, pummeled him to the ground and kicked him in the back. The victim escaped by running.

Deputies were gathering more information before classifying the assault as a hate crime, said Sgt. Darrel Brown. No one has been arrested.

The attack occurred as the Antelope Valley sheriff’s station commander, Capt. Mike Aranda, met with a group of elected officials and local civil rights leaders to discuss the outbreak of racial incidents.

The series began July 8 with a suspected skinhead attack on two African American teenagers, Marcus Cotton, 16, and his cousin, Angela McKenzie, 17. Marcus received a deep cut on one arm from a machete, but was not gravely injured.

Since then, three whites have reported assaults by African Americans in separate incidents in which the attackers made reference to skinheads. Aranda said none of the white victims have been identified as skinheads, although Robert Ulberg, 25, who was attacked Saturday, has short hair. Skinheads get their nickname from their shaved heads.

In addition, a 22-year-old Lancaster man--a self-described skinhead who was arrested in the attack on Marcus but released for lack of evidence--said he was beaten in jail by blacks after hearing a shout of “KKK.”

After the meeting Monday night, Aranda said he and subordinates have mapped out a strategy to deal with the crimes. A seven-member gang enforcement team in the Antelope Valley will be doubled today, Sheriff’s Lt. Ron Shreves said. The teams will patrol areas known to be frequented by gang members, collecting information in an attempt to prevent further attacks.

Shreves stressed that the augmented force will target gang members of all ethnicities, including skinheads, gangs that are frequently made up of white supremacists.

Also, one school resources deputy will be added to the nine who already investigate crimes at Antelope Valley high schools.