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By April Zepeda
EVERETT - Everett Police are investigating a possible hate crime after three teens allegedly beat a hair stylist with a baseball bat.
On Tuesday, the teens walked into Antonio Melani Salon in downtown and asked for an appointment.
As Clay Hernandez told them he was waiting for his next client, a 17-year-old allegedly pulled out a baseball bat our from under his coat.
"They hit me in the head with it," said Clay, "you're kind of stunned at first and you don't how to react."
Bleeding and disoriented, Clay scrambled out of the way before the next swing and escaped through a side door.
"It was definitely premeditated," he said.
Clay now wears a hat to hide dozens of stitches and staples from one side of his head to other.
"This is not a random incident," said Sgt. Robert Goetz of the Everett Police department, "We have reason to believe the 17 year old knew this individual through another source."
Police caught the teens a few blocks away. Turns out one of them is the son of another stylist who worked in the salon. The teen reportedly told police he "didn't like gays."
"I realize it does happen," said Clay of hate crimes, "But I always thought it would happen to someone else, or somewhere else."
Two of the teens were arrested on suspicion of assault. Snohomish County Juvenile Prosecutors will decide if they have enough evidence to also charge the teens with a hate crime.
But amazingly Clay says he's not angry at the boys.
"We've all made mistakes. I just hope they get the education they need," he said, "It's the only thing that's going to save them."
Source: KOMO SeattleAll rights reserved.