SANTEE, Calif. -- An attorney said a white supremacist gang gaining popularity among young people is being linked to a hate crime in the East County.

Lyle Snow said he walked outside his Santee home in June to check out some noise when he was hit from behind by a 15-year-old neighborhood boy named Trevor Solis.

"I turned to go back to my house and this Trevor Solis smacked me over the head with the skateboard in an axe-like motion," said Snow.

Snow had to get 17 staples in the back of his head and said the attack was motivated by hate because he has two African-American children.

"I was blind in one eye, bleeding in the middle of the street. I had asked for help and this guy drove by and said die [N-word]," Snow told 10News.

Snow is now suing the Solis, who was sentenced in juvenile court Wednesday. Snow's attorney Dan Gilleon said Solis' father, Trenton, was convicted in 1998 for crippling an African-American Marine who later died from his injuries.

"Now I am suing his son for basically the same thing the father did," said Gilleon.

Snow and Gilleon believe both father and son are part of a white supremacy gang in Santee called the "Peckerwoods."

"It's [Santee] been known as 'Klan-Tee,'" said Snow.

A number of Santee residents recognized that nickname for the city and the name of the gang.

"They've been kind of underground, but in the last year they have gotten bolder," said resident Jeff Adkins.

Emily Rowen said gang members came to a friend's party and started a fight.

"The Peckerwoods had brought out a huge gun and a couple of knives," Rowen said.

The Peckerwoods are known around town as a racist gang that sells drugs and recruits young children, sometimes their own children, according to authorities.

"Perpetuating their hate through multiple generations," said Snow.

Snow said his teenage attacker picked up where his dad left off and he fears it will continue in households around the East County for generations to come.

10News visited the Solis' home to get their side of the story, but they did not wish to speak on camera and said they would contact the station.

However, the Solis family did not contact 10News as of early Thursday evening.