A man was confronting the two teens — including one who was wearing a hijab — and started spouting “hate speech toward a variety of ethnicities and religions,” Portland Police Sgt. Pete Simpson said.”He told us to go back to Saudi Arabia and he told us we shouldn’t be here, to get out of his country,” Destinee Mangum, 16, told CNN affiliate KPTV of the experience.

When the trio of men tried to calm the suspect, all three were stabbed. Best and Meche died; Fletcher was stabbed 1 millimeter away from his jugular.

Scott said it’s likely difficult, if not impossible, for those good Samaritans to have predicted the the assailant would try to kill them.

“In this society, we’re raised to not allow bullies to engage in racist behavior and to intervene verbally,” Scott said. “Bullies tend to back down when verbally challenged.”