Video: Asian American Woman Assaulted In Possible Hate Crime

CULVER CITY, CA — An Asian American woman was assaulted early Monday in Culver City in what police are calling a possible hate crime, releasing video of the incident.

She was on her way to work about 1 a.m. Monday, walking westbound in the 13300 block of Washington Boulevard, near Redwood Avenue, when a suspect approached her and asked for a cigarette, according to the Culver City Police Department.

"Fearful of the male suspect, the victim told him that she did not have a cigarette and began to walk away," police said. "As the victim attempted to walk away, the suspect approached her from behind, yelled a racial slur and hit her on the right side of her head with an unknown object causing her to fall to the ground."

After assaulting her, the suspect ran westbound on Washington Boulevard, police said. The victim had a severe laceration on her right ear.

She was taken to a hospital and treated for her injuries, officials said. She is expected to make a full recovery.

Police describe the suspect as a white man, about 35 years old, 5 feet 9 inches, heavy-set. He has light-colored hair, possibly balding. It's unclear what the weapon was.

Anyone with information about the attack is asked to call the Culver City Police Department Detective Bureau at 310-253-6300.

See video of the incident released by CCPD. Warning: This video contains graphic content and could be upsetting.

Editor's Note: This story was updated at 5:36 p.m. Tuesday with additional information.

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