Wounded Antelope Valley Man Claims Attack Was Racially Motivated

An Antelope Valley man was shot and seriously wounded Saturday afternoon during what he described as a racially motivated confrontation, sheriff’s deputies said.

Robert Ulberg, 25, who is white, told deputies that at least two African Americans approached him in a car in Lancaster and shouted “skinhead” before shooting him once in the abdomen and driving off.

Ulberg was listed Saturday night in stable condition after undergoing surgery.

On Monday, two African American teenagers were attacked by white youths with a machete in the Antelope Valley, sheriff’s deputies said.

Marcus Cotton, 16, was slashed four times, receiving a deep cut on his arm and superficial wounds to his back and shoulders. His cousin, Angela McKenzie, 17, said she was spat on and pushed. The attackers allegedly gave Nazi salutes and shouted “white power” during the assault.

Two teenagers arrested after the incident were charged with committing a hate crime and assault with a deadly weapon.

Deputies said that without further investigation, they could not determine whether Ulberg’s shooting also was a hate crime.

“We don’t even know if the attack happened like he said it did,” said Sheriff’s Lt. Terry Lewis of the Antelope Valley station.