Crime & Justice
Brutal attack on Black teen by mob sparks outrage, demands for hate crime charges in Simi Valley
Cellphone footage captured a group of white teens chasing, beating, and hurling racial slurs at him outside a Regal Cinemas theater.
A violent assault on 18-year-old Michael Robinson, a Black teenager from Simi Valley, CA has ignited public outrage and calls for hate crime charges. Cellphone footage captured a group of white teens chasing, beating, and hurling racial slurs at him outside a Regal Cinemas theater.
Michael Robinson from Simi Valley reportedly assaulted
The incident occurred around 11 p.m. on Aug. 1 and left Robinson with a concussion, multiple bruises, cuts, and a chipped tooth. Police say the attackers initially targeted Robinson’s white friend, but quickly turned on Robinson, slamming him onto a car hood, shoving his head into a trash can, and repeatedly striking him in the back of the head.
Viral Video Fuels Demands for Justice
Footage of the attack, which has since gone viral, shows Robinson attempting to defend himself with a chair as several teens encircle him, shouting racial profanities. Robinson says he did not know the assailants and believes they targeted him because of his race.
“Honestly, I thought I was going to die,” Robinson told KTTV. “They kept hitting me in the back of the head, and I was scared I’d suffer permanent brain damage.”
Jamal Tooson, Robinson’s attorney, urged police to investigate the attack as a possible hate crime.
Michael Robinson assault: Suspects Released, Community Outraged
News reports say police arrested and cited four white teens for battery. Authorities released all of them to their parents shortly afterward. Journalists named one suspect as the son of a Simi Valley police officer. Officials insist the officer has no role in the investigation.
Community members have criticized authorities for releasing the suspects without holding them in custody and withholding their names, arguing the case reflects a double standard.
Public Demands Accountability
At a packed Simi Valley City Council meeting, residents demanded that Ventura County prosecutors pursue hate crime charges. “He was chased down, jumped, and mocked for the color of his skin,” said Jared Jasson, Robinson’s friend. “This wasn’t a fight. It was a hate-driven attack.”
Police Chief Steve Shorts acknowledged the incident as “definitely a hate incident” but said the decision to pursue hate crime charges lies with the district attorney’s office. The investigation remains ongoing.
Michael Robinson Calls for Accountability, Offers Forgiveness
Despite the trauma, Robinson says he forgives his attackers but insists they must face consequences.