Brutal Beating of Black Teen by White Teens Includes Officer’s Son: No Arrests

A disturbing incident of racial violence, captured on cellphone video, has ignited widespread demands for hate crime charges. The footage shows multiple white teenagers pursuing and assaulting a Black teenager while hurling racial slurs.This assault occurred at a Regal Cinemas in Simi Valley, California, around 11 p.m. on August 1, involving an 18-year-old Black victim, Michael Robinson, and an 18-year-old white teen. The viral recording highlights a brutal scene where Robinson is attacked by the group, who punch, kick, and chase him through a parking lot. He attempted to shield himself with a chair amidst the barrage of racial insults.Robinson reported sustaining multiple injuries, including a concussion and a chipped tooth. The group initially targeted his friend, before shifting their aggression to him. Four attackers received battery citations but were released; one is connected to a local police officer. Following the footage’s release, community members pressed for hate crime charges, asserting that this incident exemplifies the urgent need to address racism within their community.Despite police acknowledging the incident as a hate attack, the responsibility for pursuing hate crime charges lies with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.