Police release video of attack on Iraq War veteran outside DC McDonald's

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Persons of interest in brutal attack on vet sought by police

Raw video: D.C. police release video of alleged assault at McDonald's

Police in Washington, D.C., Thursday released surveillance video of the alleged weekend robbery and beating of a decorated former Marine outside a city McDonald's.

The video was released Thursday afternoon.

Christopher Marquez, 30, an Iraq War vet, told the Washington Post he was eating in a back corner of the restaurant when a group of teens and young men approached his table.

"I'm telling this to everybody because it's been happening a lot around here and across our country," Marquez told "Fox & Friends." "It was a hate crime. They targeted me because of my skin color. So, we're seeing a lot of these events of people being attacked because they're white. And I'm thinking we have to speak up more about this because it's just going to continue to happen."

Marquez said he left the McDonald's, but was knocked unconscious by a blow to his head. When he came to, his pants were ripped and his wallet, which contained $400 in cash, three credit cards and VA medical card among other items, was missing.

According to the Daily Caller, which first reported the incident, Marquez was able to take a cab back to his apartment, where building employees called police. He was treated at George Washington University Hospital for head trauma.

Marquez served in the Marine Corps from 2003 to 2011. He was awarded the Bronze Star with combat distinguishing device for valor during the battle for Fallujah, Iraq, in November 2004. Marquez is one of two Marines depicted carrying then-1st Sgt. Bradley Kasal out of the so-called "Hell House" in a famous photograph.

He made an unsuccessful 2014 run for Congress as a Democrat in California. He currently studies at American University in Washington, D.C.