Possible Hate Crime Thwarted at UCLA-USC Football Game

A verbal altercation escalated into a potential hate crime at the Rose Bowl on Saturday evening, according to Pasadena Police Lieutenant Keith Gomez. The incident occurred during the UCLA-USC football game in parking lot I at approximately 6:53 p.m.

According to Gomez the suspect, a Hispanic man in his late twenties, became involved in a verbal argument with a female companion. A 61-year-old man and bystander from Los Angeles, who was observing the dispute to ensure it didn’t turn physical, caught the suspect’s attention.

The suspect then redirected his aggression towards the bystander, shouting derogatory and hateful words. The situation intensified when the suspect grabbed a tire iron and advanced towards the victim, Gomez said.

According to Gomez a third party intervened, preventing the assault from taking place. Following the intervention, the suspect fled with his female companion.

No injuries were reported, and the suspect remains at large.

Gomez said that the incident is being classified as an assault with a deadly weapon with an added hate crime component. The tire iron was not recovered at the scene.

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call the Pasadena Police at (626) 744-4241 or report information anonymously by contacting “Crime Stoppers” at (800) 222-TIPS (8477) via your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile App on Google Play or the Apple App Store, or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.