This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Salt Lake City police say they are investigating two possible hate crimes involving race which occurred Friday night.
The first incident happened at about 10 p.m. near 50 W. South Temple, when two black males approached a 15-year-old boy and two friends near Temple Square.
One of the suspects asked for a lighter, and when the boy said he did not have one, the suspect began to make remarks about him being a "white boy," according to police.
Both suspects then began to physically assault the victim before fleeing. The boy received minor injuries to the head.
The suspects were described as black male adults. One wore a white shirt and black pants, and the other wore a black shirt and black pants.
The second episode occurred at about 12:50 a.m. near 100 S. Regent Street (40 East), when a 32-year-old man was approached by three black males who asked his opinion regarding race.
When the man replied that he didn't know what they were asking him, the suspects began to attack him, police said.
The assault was stopped when another person intervened and the suspects fled. The victim was transported to a hospital with injuries to his jaw and eye socket.
The suspects were described as 16 to 20 years old. One wore a dark shirt, one wore a white shirt and the third wore a gray hooded sweatshirt.