Teenager stabbed twice in Huntington Beach by 3 suspects, including cop from Illinois

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- A teenager was stabbed twice when he and his brother-in-law were walking home in Huntington Beach. They believe they were targeted because they were speaking Arabic.

"Was it like a racial issue? Is it because we were speaking Arabic or it can be like just the way we look," said Karam Jarrah, 17.

They may not know the reason for the attack, but they do know that one of the suspects, 28-year-old Arthur Roman, is a police officer in Illinois.

Arthur Roman's brother, 25-year-old Martin Roman was armed with a knife, and Martin Roman's wife Jessica also arrested for the attack. Martin and Jessica Roman are from Lake Forest.

The incident happened Sunday afternoon in the parking lot outside of a 24 Hour Fitness at 303 3rd Street as the brother-in laws walked by the three suspects sitting in their car.

"He was like, 'What's up 'obamabam?' I don't even know what that means," Jarrah recalled. "So, I said, 'What?' and he said, 'What's up 'obamabam?' He said it like he was mad."

Jarrah's brother-in-law Asem Dghem said the suspects got angry out of the blue.

"I came back very, very nicely, because we have faced this type of situation before," Dghem said.

The two said the confrontation quickly turned violent, as the suspects attacked them. Martin Roman allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed Jarrah.

"When I stood up, it was just like a fountain squirting blood, like blood everywhere," said Jarrah, who was transported to a local hospital with non life threatening injuries.

The three suspects took off in their car but were arrested a short time later. Jarrah and his family said they can't believe a cop was part of the violent attack.

"They have to actually protect us, not stab us," Dghem said. "He's a police officer, actually, he's supposed to be role model."

The three suspects now face felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon as well as battery. Police said the incident remains under investigation.

Investigators have not confirmed that the attack was motivated by race.