Posted on November 21, 2005

Cops Say Student Attacked Because of Color

Rob McDonald, Spokesman-Review (Spokane), Nov. 19

The alleged hate crime attack on a Lewis and Clark High School student came after his attacker said, “I want to beat up one of these white boys,” according to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Spokane police.

Tyson Leroy Brown, 21, of Spokane was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of malicious harassment, a Class C felony hate crime. Brown also had an unrelated warrant from Oregon, according to a Spokane police news release.

The 15-year-old victim was intentionally and maliciously assaulted due to his race, according to the affidavit obtained Friday.

The victim is white, and the alleged attacker is black.

Brown is accused of walking up to the student and knocking him unconscious with a punch to the head, then kicking the student as he was on the ground. The attack occurred Wednesday during a lunch break across the street from Lewis and Clark. The victim was treated and released at a hospital.

Brown was arrested a few blocks away. While he was being taken to jail, a police officer said Brown called himself a “racist,” according to the affidavit. He added, “I should have kicked him until he’d never get up . . . I’m a racist, and I hate all you white boys.”

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