California: criminals called gas station clerk a ‘jihadist’ and punched him

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is searching for two Eureka men suspected of committing a hate crime on Sunday along with assault and other charges.

Suspects Jamie Sean Hunt, 32, and Jeremy Lee Schweizer, 30, allegedly attempted to pay for gasoline with a counterfeit $100 bill at about 9 p.m. According to the press release, the station clerk refused to accept the bill and an argument ensued.

The two suspects allegedly used racial epithets at the clerk, who is of East Indian descent, including statements that the clerk was a “jihadist” and that he was angry Osama bin Laden was dead.

One of the suspects then allegedly punched the clerk in the side of the head. As they left, the men pushed to the ground one of the clerk’s relatives, who was standing outside, before stealing his cell phone. The clerk’s relative received gashes on his forehead, nose and right knee.

The two men left in a gray Dodge 2500 pickup truck. While doing so, they struck a passing motorist with the truck and continued fleeing.

Times-Standard, 10 May 2011

See also KRCRTV, 9 May 2011