Teen accused of suspected hate crime, threatening person praying

SAN BRUNO, Calif. - San Bruno police accused a 17-year-old of threatening a person who was praying in a shopping center parking lot on Saturday.   

The victim said he was praying outside his vehicle in the parking lot on El Camino Real about 2:40 p.m. when someone approached him brandishing a knife, police said.   

The victim, who identified himself as Middle Eastern/Afghan, said the person with the knife threatened to kill him and made derogatory comments about his ethnicity.   

The suspect fled in a vehicle, leaving the victim uninjured. Police located the vehicle and arrested the teen. 

The teen was held on accusations related to committing a hate crime, brandishing a deadly weapon, and making criminal threats, police said.   

Anyone with information related to this crime is urged to contact the San Bruno Police Department at (650) 616-7100 or sbpdtipline@sanbruno.ca.gov.