Federal hate crimes charges have been filed against Jaime Tran, a former Riverside resident who allegedly targeted and shot two Jewish men in Pico-Robertson, a predominately Jewish neighborhood in West Los Angeles, on Feb. 15 and 16.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, Tran allegedly targeted two victims because they were Jewish or he believed them to be Jewish.
If convicted, Tran could face life in prison. Because the complaint alleges he attempted to murder the two victims, the maximum statutory penalty for each of the two hate crimes is life without parole in federal prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“Over the past two days, our community experienced two horrific acts we believe were motivated by antisemitic ideology that caused him to target the Jewish community,” U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Martin Estrada said during a Feb. 17 news conference announcing the charges. “It is important, especially in one of the most diverse areas in the world, that we celebrate our differences, and stand together to oppose acts of hate.”
On Feb. 17, Tran made an initial court appearance, where a federal judge ordered him held without bail, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He was not asked to enter a plea. His arraignment is scheduled for March 9.
The announcement of federal charges against Tran followed the shooting suspect’s high-profile arrest the evening of Feb. 16 in connection with the two Pico-Robertson incidents, which resulted in non-life-threatening injuries to two victims.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass denounced the antisemitic shootings during the Feb. 17 press conference.
“When antisemitism crawls out of the shadows, make no mistake, Angelenos from every community stand united to stamp it out,” Bass said. “Antisemitism has no place in Los Angeles, no place in our country. My administration is resolute against hate, and we’ve made it a chief…
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