#Michigan police probing whether Macy’s beatdown was racially motivated

Police in Flint, Michigan, are investigating a viral video on social media of a black man pummeling a white shopper after he allegedly used the N-word, according to a report.

The incident, posted on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, shows an unidentified white man wearing a mask and speaking on a cell phone inside a Macy’s department store at the Genesee Valley Center mall when a black man approaches him and punches him.

The white man, who is knocked to the ground by the punch, turns and asks, “what are you doing that for?”

“I didn’t touch you… I’m sorry,” he said, as he attempts to crawl away but is instead punched two more times.

Flint Township Police Lt. Brad Wangler said Thursday that the department is now involved, mlive.com reported Thursday.

“Yes, we are investigating and at this point no one is in custody,” Wangler told the outlet.

A spokeswoman for Macy’s said the store has now added security officers in the wake of the incident.

“We are deeply saddened about the incident that took place on Monday at Macy’s Genesee Valley as the safety of Macy’s customers and colleagues is our top priority,” Andrea Schwartz, senior director of media relations for the chain, told mlive.com.

“We take these situations very seriously and are working closely with local authorities on this investigation, deferring all comments about the case to them per policy,” she said.

A portion of the video was posted on Facebook Monday by rapper FT Quay, who said the white man was overheard referring to a black man a “n—er.”

Film producer and activist Tariq Nasheed posted a clip on Twitter Tuesday.

“A man at a store in #Flint allegedly referred to a black man in the store as a ‘n***er’ while talking on the #phone,” Nasheed said. “The black man overheard hi, then things went left.”