Sikh Teen Reportedly Assaulted At Huntington Station Mall

HUNTINGTON STATION, NY — A fight between two groups of juveniles on Saturday in Huntington Station is being investigated as a potential hate crime, Suffolk police said.

The juveniles began arguing at Walt Whitman Shops and one told officers he was punched and that bias comments were hurled at him, police said. He was not injured.

Police did not detail the comments.

Chaz Bedi, 13, of Syosset, who is a Sikh, told ABC 7 that he and his friend, who were wearing dastars, were walking through the mall when they passed a large group of teenagers. One of the teens called Bedi "Muhammad," Bedi told Eyewitness News reporter Kristin Thorne. Words were exchanged, but Bedi and his friend tried to walk away before the group followed them, according to ABC 7. One teenager told Bedi, "I'm going to knock that ball off your head," Bedi told Eyewitness News.

Bedi was then punched, police said.

Town of Huntington Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci issued a statement on Thursday.

"It is absolutely unacceptable for bullying and violence of any kind to be directed at any person in the Town of Huntington," he said. "We pride ourselves on being a microcosm of our entire nation with a shared respect for the many cultures that comprise our united community. Learning of the alleged bias attack at a local shopping center, it is especially disappointing to believe there are young people visiting or living in our Town who do not share this common respect for others. We fully support the Suffolk County Police Department in their investigation to bring the alleged suspects to justice."