8 Arrested in Suspected Antelope Valley Hate Crime

Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies arrested eight Asian males Sunday morning on suspicion of committing a hate crime in the beating of two Latino men at a gas station mini-mart .

The victims, Jorge Barajas and Joel Orosco, both 21-year-old Lancaster residents, were inside the Texaco Station Market at Challenger Way and Avenue K about 1:33 a.m. when they were approached by eight to 10 male Asians, authorities said. The victims told deputies that one of their attackers had asked, “What are you wetbacks doing in here?”

Moments later the group began kicking and assaulting Barajas and Orosco with a “Club” steering wheel lock, authorities said. The victims suffered bruises and cuts to their heads.

The assailants fled in several lowered cars, authorities said. Sheriff’s deputies within minutes spotted the vehicles traveling south on the Antelope Valley Freeway and arrested the occupants, authorities said. Officials said Barajas and Orosco were taken to the arrest scene, where authorities said the pair identified eight of their assailants.

Authorities said those taken into custody range in age from about 18 to 24 years old. They were all arrested on suspicion of committing a hate crime and assault with a deadly weapon, authorities said.