2 teens admit to hate crime in California movie theater attack
2 teens admit to hate crime in California movie theater attack
Two of five minors suspected in a movie theater altercation in Simi Valley earlier this year have admitted to felony assault and hate crimes in the case, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday.
Authorities said the teens assaulted at least three victims during the early August incident in the Regal Cinemas parking lot on Tapo Canyon Road, D.A. Erik Nasarenko said.
The suspects, who were identified only as three 17-year-olds and two 16-year-olds, were charged earlier this month with felony assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, with a special allegation of a hate crime.
One of the victims, 18-year-old Michael Robinson, told KTLA that the attack was racially motivated.
“They hit one of my friends in the face first,” Robinson said. “Then they hit another. Then they rushed me while I was between two cars. I managed to get out and ran into the parking lot. That’s when they slammed me into the hood of a car and jumped me.”
Video circulating on social media that has been obtained by KTLA shows the moment a late-night assault broke out near a movie theater in Simi Valley on Aug. 2, 2025.
Video circulating on social media that has been obtained by KTLA shows the moment a late-night assault broke out near a movie theater in Simi Valley on Aug. 2, 2025.
Footage of an altercation between a group of youths and a victim is shown. The victim, who was holding up a chair in self-defense, was surrounded by the group, who was hurling profanities at him. The victim then ran away, but his assailants pursued and started beating him in an outdoor area.
Footage of an altercation between a group of youths and a victim is shown. The victim, who was holding up a chair in self-defense, was surrounded by the group, who was hurling profanities at him. The victim then ran away, but his assailants pursued and started beating him in an outdoor area.
Footage of an altercation between a group of youths and a victim is shown. The victim, who was holding up a chair in self-defense, was surrounded by the group, who was hurling profanities at him. The victim then ran away, but his assailants pursued and started beating him in an outdoor area.
Footage of an altercation between a group of youths and a victim is shown. The victim, who was holding up a chair in self-defense, was surrounded by the group, who was hurling profanities at him. The victim then ran away, but his assailants pursued and started beating him in an outdoor area.
One of the three videos included in the post (which also contained a slide of pictures of some of the alleged suspects) shows one of the teens in the vicinity at the time leaning casually against a Simi Valley Police Department squad car right next to officers.
One of the three videos included in the post (which also contained a slide of pictures of some of the alleged suspects) shows one of the teens in the vicinity at the time leaning casually against a Simi Valley Police Department squad car right next to officers.
Video circulating on social media that has been obtained by KTLA shows the moment a late-night assault broke out near a movie theater in Simi Valley on Aug. 2, 2025.
Video circulating on social media that has been obtained by KTLA shows the moment a late-night assault broke out near a movie theater in Simi Valley on Aug. 2, 2025.
Video circulating on social media that has been obtained by KTLA shows the moment a late-night assault broke out near a movie theater in Simi Valley on Aug. 2, 2025.
Video circulating on social media that has been obtained by KTLA shows the moment a late-night assault broke out near a movie theater in Simi Valley on Aug. 2, 2025.
Video circulating on social media that has been obtained by KTLA shows the moment a late-night assault broke out near a movie theater in Simi Valley on Aug. 2, 2025.
Video circulating on social media that has been obtained by KTLA shows the moment a late-night assault broke out near a movie theater in Simi Valley on Aug. 2, 2025.
Video circulating on social media that has been obtained by KTLA shows the moment a late-night assault broke out near a movie theater in Simi Valley on Aug. 2, 2025.
Video circulating on social media that has been obtained by KTLA shows the moment a late-night assault broke out near a movie theater in Simi Valley on Aug. 2, 2025.
Video circulating on social media that has been obtained by KTLA shows the moment a late-night assault broke out near a movie theater in Simi Valley on Aug. 2, 2025.
Cellphone video captured by a witness shows Robinson being chased, beaten and allegedly subjected to racial slurs.
Two of the teens suspected in the attack were also charged in a separate altercation in the same lot on May 30. One of those two has admitted to his involvement, Nasarenko said Thursday.
Arraignment for the three minors who have not admitted to the criminal charges is scheduled for mid-November.
Sentencing for the two teens who admitted to the charges is scheduled for Nov. 13 and Nov. 19, according to the D.A.’s Office.
Two of five minors arrested in a movie theater parking lot altercation in Simi Valley earlier this year have admitted to felony assault and hate crimes in the case, the Ventura County District Attorney's Office announced Thursday. Authorities said the teens assaulted at least three victims during the early August…
The three minors charged with hate crimes in a parking lot assault at the Simi Valley Regal Cinema in August have all been sentenced, the Ventura County District Attorney announced Friday. “Hate crimes will not be tolerated in Ventura County,” said District Attorney Erik Nasarenko. “Wesought justice for our victims…