Assault of 2 Shoreline CC students on Oregon beach considered hate crime

Two Shoreline Community College nursing students were brutally attacked over the weekend in the small Oregon ocean-resort town of Seaside in what police there are terming a hate crime.

The men, 22 and 23, told police they were assaulted by three to four people in black, who beat them unconscious early Sunday as they walked along the beach after a night out in town during their spring break.

"We decided to wind up our evening by walking on the beach," said one of the young men, who asked that their names not be released. At the invitation of a group of people, the two stopped at a campfire gathering but soon started to feel uncomfortable and left. They believe they may have been followed.

One of the victims said someone in the group of assailants asked if they were gay, "then called us 'queer' and 'faggot' as they attacked us," he said.

The attackers left the two men lying on the beach, unconscious. After they came to, the two stumbled into a nearby hotel seeking help.

They were treated for facial bruises at an area hospital, one of the victims said.

One man lives in Bothell, the other in Issaquah.

The Seaside Police Department has posted a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the attack.

Seaside Police Chief Bob Gross said the hate-crime designation could bring a penalty in addition to that of the assault charges, The Associated Press reported.

Seaside police said detectives have been trying to track the victims' movements before the assault. They are requesting help from the public in identifying people who were at the bonfire party.

Information from The Associated Press was included in this report.

Charles E. Brown: 206-464-2206 or cbrown@seattletimes.com