Seventeen Individuals Deny Charges in Hate Crime Case Involving Assault on Three Black Men by Hells Angels in San Diego

On Monday, 17 individuals entered pleas of not guilty in connection to a violent incident involving three Black men and members of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang in San Diego earlier this year, according to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.

The individuals who were targeted, aged 19, 20, and 21, were unexpectedly pursued and attacked in the Ocean Beach neighborhood of San Diego on June 6. During the attack, racial slurs were used and they were told they were not welcome in the area, as stated by the prosecutors in their official press release.

Of the three victims, one managed to evade injury by fleeing the scene, another sustained injuries from being punched, kicked, and ultimately knocked unconscious, while the third was stabbed in the chest by a high-ranking member of the Hells Angels, but survived the assault, according to the prosecution.

On September 13, a grand jury formally indicted 14 individuals for their alleged involvement in the assault, which included claims that the attack was coordinated with a criminal street gang. Additionally, hate crime allegations were included against 11 of the accused individuals.

The most severe charge, that of attempted murder, was leveled against the individual believed to be the gang leader responsible for the stabbing. Subsequently, the grand jury also indicted three more individuals on charges of being accessories after the fact, alleging that they assisted in helping the accused leader flee the scene.

District Attorney Summer Stephan conveyed in an official statement, “In San Diego County, we cannot, and will not tolerate acts of violence and racism of any kind, let alone crimes of this deeply hateful, cruel, and unprovoked nature.”

All 17 defendants were taken into custody on September 21 and entered their not guilty pleas during their arraignments this Monday. The charges brought against them carry potential sentences that range from three years to life imprisonment. A trial has been scheduled for November 14.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Hate Crime in San Diego

More about Hate Crime in San Diego

• San Diego County District Attorney’s Official Press Release
• Ocean Beach Neighborhood Crime Statistics
• Legal Overview of Hate Crime Charges in California
• Hells Angels: A Brief History and Background
• Understanding the Legal Process: From Indictment to Trial in California