Woman of Asian descent punched, called racial slur in Culver City

Police investigate possible hate crime in Culver City

CULVER CITY, Calif. - The Culver City Police Department Wednesday released security video of a possible hate crime on an Asian American woman and sought public help to find the suspect who punched her in the head.

The attack happened about 1 a.m. Monday in the 13300 block of Washington Boulevard.

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"The victim, who is of Asian American descent, was walking westbound on Washington Boulevard, on her way to work, when she was approached by the suspect who asked her for a cigarette," according to a CCPD statement.

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"Fearful of the male suspect, the victim told him that she did not have a cigarette and began to walk away. As she kept walking, the man walked alongside her and yelled a racial slur," police said.

"Without provocation, the suspect punched the victim on the right side of her head, causing her to fall to the street," police said.

The woman suffered a "severe" laceration to her right ear and was taken to a hospital for treatment, according to police, who said she is expected to recover fully.

The suspect was described as white, about 35 years old, 5 feet 9 inches tall and heavyset, with light colored hair, possibly balding.

Anyone with information on the case was urged to call police at 310-253-6300.