West Allis police have detained a 16-year-old Milwaukee youth who admitted taking part in the mayhem on the opening night of the Wisconsin State Fair, and the youth could face a hate-crime penalty.

The teen, who is black, told police he and other African-American juveniles beat up white people because they were "easy targets," according to West Allis police. He also said he "was going along with the crowd" in the robberies that happened after the midway closed last Thursday.

He admitted to police that he walked on the hood, roof and trunk of a vehicle stopped in traffic outside State Fair.

The youth, whose name was not released, was booked on charges of robbery and attempted robbery with use of force and was taken to the Milwaukee County Children's Court Center. Both charges carry a hate-crime penalty enhancer because the victims were chosen based on their race. The teen did not have a state juvenile arrest record and had no prior contacts with West Allis police.

West Allis police are continuing to investigate the violence that started in the midway on the evening of Aug. 4 when fights broke out among black youths. Those fights did not appear to be racially motivated. Around the fair's 11 p.m. closing time, dozens to hundreds of black youths attacked white fairgoers as they left the grounds.

Police already have made several arrests and are continuing to search for suspects.

