Man arrested for hate crime against student at Irvine High School

IRVINE, Calif. (KABC) -- A man was arrested for committing a hate crime against a student at Irvine High School on Wednesday, according to authorities.

Irvine police said the incident happened in front of the school at about 12:50 p.m.

Though students were on spring break, police said a 16-year-old African American student was waiting for his brother to pick him up after sports practice.

As the teen's 24-year-old brother drove up to the school, the student was approached by 24-year-old Christopher Qu, who was carrying a metal pipe, according to police.

Officials said Qu, who the victim did not know, began saying racial slurs and aggressively walking towards the teen.

The student's brother got out of the vehicle to intervene, but police said he was head-butted by Qu and struck several times in the arm with the pipe.

The siblings were able to get into their car and call for help. The 24-year-old victim suffered cuts to his face and arms and also bruising on his arms. His younger brother was not injured.

Authorities said Qu fled the scene and was found by officers and taken into custody.

A bloody pipe was recovered in the parking lot of the school, according to police.

Qu was arrested and booked for a hate crime, felony assault and assault with a deadly weapon. He was held on $125,000 bail.

Court records indicate Qu was charged in 2013 with assault with a deadly weapon. The charge was later dismissed and he pleaded guilty to criminal threats.

He was sentenced to 84 days in jail and three years probation.

According to the Orange County Sheriff's Department, Qu was arrested in February 2016 for a probation violation. He served one month in jail and was just released in mid-March.