WASHINGTON -- Two teenagers were arrested in the attack and robbery of a U.S. Marine outside a McDonald's in Northwest Washington D.C. The February 12 attack, according to victim Christopher Marquez, was racially motivated.
"They asked me if I believe that black lives matter. I felt threatened and thought they were trying to intimidate me, so I figured I'm just going to keep to my food, eat my food, and hopefully they'll leave me alone. And because I wasn't respond back to them, they were calling me a racist, " Marquez told WJLA. "As soon as I walked out of the McDonald's I got hit in the back of the head, or the side of the head. I just dropped to the ground, and he says I looked unconscious."
Christopher Marquez
The attack on Marquez and the search for those responsible gained national attention on cable news and social media. On Tuesday, police announced two arrests had been made.
"First District Detectives and the Criminal Interdiction Unit arrested a 17-year-old juvenile male, of Northwest, D.C. and a 17-year-old juvenile female, of Northwest, D.C.," a police spokesperson said. "The juvenile male was charged with Aggravated Assault and the juvenile female was charged with Robbery."
The official police account of the attack made no mention of motive.
A victim was exiting a restaurant in the area when he was assaulted by suspect one. Suspect two then proceeded to take a wallet that carried a student identification card, credit cards and cash from the victim’s pocket. A third suspect also assaulted the victim. The suspects then fled the scene.
The Daily Caller reported Marquez's cards were used to buy alcohol, food from Five Guys and items at Walmart.
Marquez earned a Bronze Star for his heroic action during a 2004 firefight in Fallujah, USA Today reported.
