SAN DIEGO -- A 42-year-old security guard was assaulted Tuesday night by three boys in what is being investigated as an anti-gay hate crime, police said.

The boys attacked the man at approximately 8:20 p.m. at Dunlop and Ulric streets, making anti-gay comments as they beat him, said San Diego police Sgt. Bob Dare.

Earlier in the day, the security guard had reported to police that the boys had threatened him, Dare said. When they heard that the guard had made the report, the boys returned and confronted him, Dare said.

The boys ran off when witnesses called police, Dare said. After searching the area, officers found the boys and arrested them, Dare said.

The guard did not need medical attention, Dare said.

The boys, whose names and ages were not disclosed, will be booked on suspicion of battery and conspiracy, Dare said. The incident will be investigated as a hate crime, he said.

Dare said he did not know if the security guard was actually gay, but that would not affect the incident's status as a hate crime.

"It doesn't matter," Dare said. "If you beat someone up... and you make it clear that's why you're attacking him, then that's good enough for California."