An 80-year-old man allegedly battered and unloaded a rant laden with racial slurs on a black woman in a college parking lot in Santa Monica this week, prompting a hate crime investigation.
The incident began as a physical altercation outside The Broad Stage on 11th Street, part of the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Campus, around 6:35 p.m. on Tuesday, Santa Monica College Police Department Chief Johnnie Adams said in a statement.
College student Enrique Conde was on his way to music class when he witnessed what he described as a “deeply sad moment” and began recording it on his cellphone.
Conde told KTLA the man became angry because the woman, who is also a student, had parked over the line of her parking stall. As she was in the process of correcting the parking job, he began lashing out at her.
In the video, the man, who police have identified as Los Angeles resident Fredric Allan Shinerock, can be heard repeatedly using racial slurs against the woman, telling her, “You don’t belong here,” and that she should “go back to South L.A.”
(Note: The entire video, which includes highly offensive language, can be seen on Conde’s Twitter account.)
“Right away, here are these racial slurs and expletives being shouted,” Conde said.
The verbal altercation soon escalated into physical violence, and Shinerock was eventually taken into custody on suspicion of battery on school property, a misdemeanor, Adams said.
He was cited and released at the scene, but the Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office will review the case as a possible hate crime and determine what action to take, according to Adams.
The woman was evaluated by paramedics at scene but not transported for treatment.
Shinerock told KTLA he was at The Broad Stage to attend an opera performance but declined to comment further on the case.
When the theater is hosting such events, parking must be shared between both the center’s students and performance attendees — and there are often not enough spaces, Conde said.
“If someone is not parked very well, then that’s one parking spot lost,” he said. “That’s how I believe it started.”
Late Wednesday night, the college released a statement from Kathryn E. Jeffery, the college’s superintendent and president.
“Santa Monica College is an institution that prides itself on inclusivity and diversity and we will continue to do our utmost to uphold our commitment to provide a safe and inclusive learning environment,” Jeffery said in the statement, which was posted to the college’s Facebook page. “We will take immediate and evident action to reinforce to our students, college community, and guests that there is no room for hate at Santa Monica College.”
Police are continuing to investigate the incident and ask witnesses to come forward. Anyone with information can contact the Santa Monica College police at 310-434-4300, referencing case number 18-216.
Correction: A headline for a previous version of this story incorrectly said Shinerock was arrested on hate crime charges. He was taken into custody but cited and released at the scene. The incident is being investigated as a possible hate crime. This post has been updated.
