SEATTLE -- According to King County Prosecutors, two people were charged with an alleged hate crime Wednesday following an attack on a deli owner late Tuesday, reported KIRO 7 Eyewitness News.


Owner Steven Saleh said a man and a woman entered Saleh's Delicatessen at 24th Avenue Northwest and Northwest 80th Streets in Ballard while his 18-year-old nephew was working the counter.

Saleh said with no provocation the couple, who was was trying to buy beer and cigarettes, started verbally attacking him with racial slurs and obscenities.

Video: Deli Store Attack Caught On Tape

Saleh said he refused to sell the couple beer and asked them to leave but the man took off his jacket and came over the counter and grabbed him by the throat.

Survelliance video from the deli showed the attack and racial slurs.



Saleh said he was able to grab a metal bar from behind the counter and order them out of the store, but struck the man several times when he attacked again.

The video also showed the woman attacking Saleh who said he was bitten, hit, choked and kicked during the attack.

A friend of Saleh inside the store called police, who arrived with guns drawn.

Saleh said he has been the target of racism before, but it had never turned violent.

The couple are being held on $10,000 bail each, if convicted they could face a sentence of three to nine months, because neither have a criminal record.