Gay Man Claims He Was Victim of Hate Crime in West Hollywood

A man who works at a popular gay bar in West Hollywood, Calif., says he was attacked by two men early Friday morning in what he believes was an antigay hate crime.

Christopher de la Cruz told Los Angeles TV station KTLA that he was walking to his car shortly after midnight Friday morning when two men attacked him, allegedly holding a knife to his face, punching him, and calling him a "fucking faggot."

De la Cruz, whose Facebook profile identifies him as Christopher Burton, the catering and events coordinator at popular LGBT bar The Abbey, said his attackers escaped with some of his credit cards, but have not used them, making him suspect ulterior motives.

"They attacked me 'cause I was gay," de la Cruz told KTLA. He did not contact the police until the following day, and has yet to provide a description of his alleged attackers. West Hollywood Police confirmed the report to local TV station KABC, and said they are investigating the allegations.

In a Facebook post Friday at 2:35 a.m., de la Cruz posted a selfie of his dirtied face said he was "attacked and harassed," with his "face pushed to the ground and punched several times." Two hours earlier, around the time he said the attack took place, de la Cruz had posted a status update from West Hollywood that simply said "Bye."

Watch KTLA's report on the alleged assault below.