Kanye West allegedly punches 18-year-old boy for hurling racial slurs at Kim Kardashian

Kanye West is a suspect in another battery investigation after he allegedly punched an 18-year-old boy for hurling racial abuse at his fiancée, Kim Kardashian.

The alleged altercation apparently occurred at 12pm yesterday as Kardashian made her way into a local furniture store.

The teenager, who initially held the door open for her, reportedly cursed at the waiting paparazzi she had following her as she entered the shop.

TMZ alleges that the young man said to the photographers: "F**k these fa**ot-ass n****rs".

She apparently scolded the young man for using the ‘N’ word, calling his use of the term "inappropriate".

Kardashian then allegedly phoned West to tell him about the incident.

According to TMZ, "When the guy realized[sic] Kanye was on the phone he allegedly said, 'F**k you N****r,' loud enough for the rapper to hear him."

Just minutes later, West reportedly arrived at the scene to join Kardashian.

West then allegedly followed the teen into a chiropractor's office where he found him sitting.

"Witnesses say Kanye punched the guy and Kim screamed, 'We have it all on tape'," the TMZ report continues.

A third party allegedly separated West and the teen. The police were called shortly afterwards.

Beverly Hills Police Officers confirmed that they were called to, and arrived, at the scene of the incident, but said that West and Kardashian had already left.

The unidentified man has since reported the incident to the BHPD and said that he wants to press charges. Law enforcement sources in Los Angeles confirmed that the investigation had been referred to the LA County DA for possible prosecution.

Speaking to the New York Daily News, Beverly Hills Police Sgt George DeMarois said: "Kanye was named as a suspect by the victim as well as witnesses. He had left prior to our arrival, and detectives are currently investigating.

"The named suspect was identified as Kanye West by the victim and several witnesses," a statement from the BHPD confirmed.

However, reports on the sequence of events seem to vary. E!Online, the website of the channel that owns the rights to Keeping Up With The Kardashians and that often has the inside exclusive directly from Kardashian sources, told a slightly different account of events.

A "witness" told the site: "Kim and Kanye were meeting for an appointment today [Monday].

"Kim arrived later than Kanye. En route into the building Kim saw a young man yelling racial slurs at the paparazzi.

"Kim told him he shouldn't use racial slurs and he turned on her and verbally assaulted her."

The source went on to claim that the young man continued to tell Kardashian to "shut the f**k up" and that they then continued their conversation inside the chiropractor’s office building.

"The two ended up in a stairwell where the man was in her face and continued to verbally assault her," the insider alleged.

"She was genuinely scared."

It was then that Kardashian is thought to have taken a phone call from her fiancé.

"Kanye called her phone and she answered and the man continued yelling at her," the source goes on to claim. "Kanye overheard and came running down... He confronted the guy.

"The guy continued with the slurs. He was in Kanye's face and wouldn't stop. He was taunting him. Police were called to the scene."

The man in question was later photographed leaving a medical building with a sweatshirt over his head.

West is already facing charges of battery and attempted grand theft after a separate altercation with a photographer, Daniel Ramos, at LAX Airport last summer.

Ramos claims that West attacked him as he tried to take the rapper’s picture.

West has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His case is scheduled to be heard on 23 January.

According to Rob Wilcox, a spokesperson for Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, each of the two charges carry a maximum sentence of six months in jail.

Representatives for Kanye West and Kim Kardashian are yet to respond to a request for comment on the incident.