Man Says He Beat Up White Man Because He Was Upset About Trayvon Martin Case

By Samantha Abernethy in News on Apr 23, 2012 8:50PM

Alton L. Hayes III, 18, faces hate crime charges after he told police he beat up a white man because he was upset about the Trayvon Martin case. The west suburban man and an accomplice, both black, allegedly walked up to a man around 1 a.m. on April 17.

Fox writes:

Hayes and a 15-year-old Chicago boy walked up behind the 19-year-old man victim and pinned his arms to his side, police said. Hayes, 18, then picked up a large tree branch, pointed it at the man and said, “Empty your pockets, white boy.”

The two allegedly rifled through the victim’s pockets, then threw him to the ground and punched him “numerous times” in the head and back before running away, police said. Hayes and the boy are black; the victim is white.

The Cook County State's Attorney's office said Hayes told police the racially charged Martin case was his reason for committing the crime. He faces charges of attempted robbery, aggravated battery and a hate crime. He is being held on $80,000 bond, and the 15-year-old accomplice is going through juvenile court.