Teen Faces Hate Crime Charge: Attacks Man Listening To Rap Music'

by NowPublic Staff | July 28, 2010 at 08:21 am

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Palm Bay Florida Teenager Faces Hate Crime Charge, Allegedly Attacks Man Listening To Rap Music

“White people shouldn’t listen to rap music” - that was what an African-American teenager is alleged to have said before he assaulted a man listening to rap music, according to the Palm Bay police.

The alleged assault occurred Monday in Palm Bay, Florida. A man was walking down the street listening to rap music when he encountered a group of teenagers.

A 14 year old African-American teen approached the victim, who was white, and reportedly told him "white people shouldn't listen to rap music." The man said he could listen to whatever he wanted.

The teen then reportedly hit the victim in the face while others cheered him on police say.

The teen was taken into custody late Monday and charged with battery after Palm Bay police were called to investigate a disturbance near the intersection of Port Malabar Boulevard and India Lane in the northeast section of the city.

Hate-crime enhancement means the first-degree misdemeanor battery charge could be elevated to a third-degree felony because the youth show “extreme prejudice against the victim because of his race,” said Yvonne Martinez, spokeswoman for the Palm Bay Police Department.