Shooting Is Investigated as Hate Crime

The shooting of an African American man in Tujunga is being investigated as a hate crime, police said Wednesday, adding that one of his attackers shouted a racial slur at the victim before shooting him.

The 42-year-old man was shot in the face outside his home Tuesday night, police said. The bullet shattered the victim’s teeth and lodged in his jaw.

The man was taken to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, where he was treated and later released, a spokeswoman said.

Police did not release the victim’s name, citing the need to protect his identity, and said no arrests have been made.

The man and a relative were walking along the 10100 block of Hillhaven Avenue about 9 p.m. when a black or dark blue sport utility vehicle pulled into a driveway in front of them, blocking their path, said Det. Miles Taylor of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Foothill Division.

Two people stepped out of the vehicle. One yelled a racial epithet and shot the man in the mouth with a handgun, Taylor said.

Taylor said there had been no previous altercations between the victim and the assailants.

“It was an unprovoked attack,” Taylor said. “There is no evidence that his actions brought on the attack.”

Investigators did not know the race of the attackers, who wore knit caps and scarves or bandannas covering their faces, Taylor said.