FBI investigating whether Pittsburgh attack was federal hate crime

This browser does not support the video element.

PITTSBURGH — The FBI is investigating whether an attack at a downtown Pittsburgh T Station constitutes a federal hate crime.

Five Baldwin men have been charged on the state level in the May 30 beating of Kevin Lockett.

FREE APPS | NOW | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

Lockett told police the group taunted him with racial slurs before attacking him on the platform. He suffered several broken facial bones, according to the criminal complaint.

According to Channel 11's news exchange partners at TribLIVE, the FBI is working closely with Port Authority police.

"We are currently reviewing the matter, and we are doing so in close coordination with the Port Authority Police Department and the United States Attorney's Office," FBI Special Agent Greg Heeb wrote Monday in an email to TribLIVE.

The most serious charges were filed against 21-year-old Ryan Kyle, who admitted to beating Lockett, according to the complaint.

When Kyle was stopped by police, he said, “Who cares? It was only a (racial slur),” the complaint quoted him as saying.

Kyle was charged with attempted homicide, ethnic intimidation, aggravated assault, robbery, conspiracy, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

David Depretis, 20; Matthew LaPlace, 21; Christopher LaPlace, 23; and Kenneth Gault, 21, are facing various charges related to the attack.