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The NAACP of Des Moines hosted a news conference Sunday afternoon while authorities are investigating an assault on a man that happened early Saturday morning. "I just want justice for my son," said Daryl Jones, father of DarQuan Jones. "The way he was brutally beaten by three guys is not right." Authorities found a 22-year-old DarQuan Jones, of Des Moines, at approximately 3:25 a.m. Sunday on the 5200 block of South Union Street. Officers found DarQuan Jones with significant injuries and he was transported to a hospital. DarQuan Jones told police that racial comments were made to him during the assault. "This is what happens when he goes free to be a man?" Daryl Jones said while holding back tears. "It's just not right." Kameron Middlebrooks, president of Des Moines' NAACP, addressed that the attack on DarQuan Jones came weeks after a run was organized to celebrate the life of Ahmaud Abrey, who was shot and killed while on a run in Georgia in February. Middlebrooks also said the assault came days after a cyberattack occurred during a virtual city meeting that showed pornographic, racial and explicit messages."The most terrifying part of this is knowing that even though this was perpetrated by a coward behind a computer screen, the reality is, this type of hate and ignorance is prevalent in Des Moines and there is a risk of an incident that could cause bodily harm or worse," Middlebrooks said. "We believe Saturday morning that occurred. Living in the midst of COVID-19, it's easy to believe that this virus is the cause of many of our problems. But in truth, it is only exacerbated these issues we face. The greatest being, the other invisible virus: racism, and how deeply rooted it is in our nation." Middlebrooks continued by saying that Saturday's attack should be seen as a hate crime. Major Stephen Waymire, with the Des Moines Police Department, said currently they are investigating the attack as a serious assault and once they can confirm a motive, they will be able to address it as a hate crime. "The young man, who is also an essential worker, was brutally beaten, called a n, called a monkey, and nearly had his life taken," Middlebrooks said. "If it wasn't for two witnesses that came to his aid, we would have been sitting here working with the family on funeral arrangements." Authorities are interviewing witnesses and looking into evidence. Anyone with information on the assault is asked to call the Des Moines Police Department at 515-283-4868.