A violent attack on three African American men in Ocean Beach, San Diego has brought 17 members and associates of the Hells Angels motorcycle club to face criminal charges. The incident occurred on June 6 outside a bar near Newport Avenue and Bacon Street when an argument broke out between three young men and several bikers. One man was stabbed in the chest and another was knocked unconscious. The victims were repeatedly subjected to racial slurs and told they did not belong in the neighborhood.

District Attorney Summer Stefan described the attack as a hate crime, emphasizing the history of hatred that the Hells Angels motorcycle club has demonstrated towards African Americans. One victim suffered a severe stab wound that exposed his lungs, while another was beaten unconscious. The third victim managed to escape.

The arrest of one suspect on the night of the incident led to a wider investigation into the Hells Angels' involvement in other criminal activities, such as drug and gun trafficking. Authorities seized 42 illegal guns, including silencers, along with other items related to their illegal operations.

During their court appearances, the defendants, including the alleged stabbing perpetrator Troy Shoulder, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The assailant is described as a long-time leader of the Hells Angels. Another defendant, 29-year-old Mikhail Everett Peters, who arrived for his arraignment in his military uniform, was confirmed to be a member of the US Navy.