Seattle police are investigating an assault on a man on Capitol Hill early Wednesday as a possible hate crime.
Police were called to 10th Avenue and E. Union Street around 2:15 AM after a bystander reported seeing a man being pulled from an SUV and assaulted by a second man.
At the scene, officers learned the 26-year-old victim had been at a bar earlier in the evening, where they had met a group of five men.
The victim eventually parted ways with his friends and left the bar. Later, the victim’s friends left the bar with the group of men and joined them in their SUV so they could head to a party.
As the SUV drove through Capitol Hill, the three women spotted their friend, the victim, and asked the men to pick him up.
When the victim climbed into the SUV, the group of men began yelling for him to get out of the vehicle and used homophobic slurs.
One of the men in the SUV then reportedly tried to push the victim out of the vehicle while it was in motion. One suspect also put the victim in a headlock and punched him.
The victim’s friends pushed their way out of the SUV and the group of men sped away.
After receiving a 911 call from a witness, officers searched the neighborhood for the suspects and the SUV, but were unable to find them.
The victim received treatment for scrapes and bruising at an area hospital following the incident.
SPD’s Bias Crimes detective is investigating the case and are asking anyone with information to call (206) 684-5550.