White Man Attacked For Listening To Rap, Possible Hate Crime Charge

PALM BAY, Fla. (AP) — Authorities in coastal Florida say a black teenager is accused of attacking a white man for listening to rap music and could be charged with a hate crime.

Police took the 14-year-old Palm Bay boy into custody late Monday and charged him with battery.

Police spokeswoman Yvonne Martinez says the teen could face a hate-crime enhancement charge because he showed “extreme prejudice against the victim because of his race.”

Martinez says the teen told the 22-year-old victim to stop listening to rap music because “white people shouldn’t listen to rap music.” The teen then struck him in the face.

The state attorney’s office will review the charges. It wasn’t immediately known if the teen has an attorney.