Federal hate crime charges filed against suspect in shootings of 2 Jewish men in LA

Federal hate crime charges have been filed in the shootings of two Jewish men in Los Angeles this week, according to a criminal complaint.

Jaime Tran, 28, has been charged with hate crimes in the separate shootings of two Jewish men as they were leaving religious services in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood, according to the complaint.

The shootings occurred within 24 hours on Wednesday and Thursday mornings as the victims left different synagogues within two blocks of each other, authorities said.

Both men were shot "at close range," Martin Estrada, U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, said during a press briefing Friday announcing the charges.

"The complaint alleges that Tran, motivated by hate, targeted the two victims because they were Jewish, or he believes them to be Jewish," said Estrada, who noted that the victims were wearing clothing that "visibly identified their Jewish faith," including black coats and head coverings.

The first victim was shot in the lower back, while the second was shot in the upper arm, Estrada said. Both are in stable condition, authorities said.

Tran appeared in federal court Friday afternoon, handcuffed and wearing foot shackles. Standing with his public defender, he said he understood the charges against him as the judge said he violated the Hate Crimes Act. He was ordered detained and is next due to appear in court on March 3. A post-indictment arraignment has also been set for March 9.

If convicted, Tran faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, Estrada said.

According to the complaint, Tran told agents he "searched for a 'kosher' market" on Yelp, then allegedly drove to the market and selected victims in the area because of their "head gear." The victims were shot with a handgun, prosecutors said.

Tran allegedly has a history of antisemitic and threatening conduct, including emailing dozens of his former classmates describing Jewish people as "primitive," according to the complaint. He also allegedly blamed lost revenue from COVID-19 lockdowns on the "Iranian Jew," the complaint said.

Tran was taken into custody Thursday evening following an "exhaustive search" that led officers to an area in Riverside County, according to the Los Angeles police.

The suspect in the shootings was initially described by police as an Asian man with a mustache and goatee. A responding officer working the shootings saw an Asian man driving in the area with a mask on and black hoodie and took a photo of the vehicle, according to the complaint. The license plate was linked to Tran, and a license plate reader put him in the area of the shootings when they occurred, according to the complaint.

Cellphone pings put him in the Palm Springs area, and local police responding to the call of a man with a gun and shots fired took Tran into custody, according to the complaint. An AK-style rifle and .380 caliber handgun were recovered, according to the complaint.

The LAPD increased police presence and patrols around Jewish places of worship and surrounding neighborhoods in the wake of the shootings, which it said will continue through the weekend "in an abundance of caution." The Pico-Robertson area is home to many synagogues and religious centers.

"This week, the Pico-Robertson community where I grew up was terrorized. Our Jewish community was terrorized. And that terror was felt all across Los Angeles. One shooting, then a second, and perhaps even scarier, not knowing what would happen next," LA Mayor Karen Bass said during Friday's press briefing. "Today, we can rest, hopefully, a little bit easier. Still, antisemitism and terror are tragically on the rise across our city and across our nation."

In 2021, nearly 75% of religious-based hate crimes reported in Los Angeles County targeted the Jewish community, according to a report from the county's Commission on Human Relations.

"The Jewish community feels under siege," Jeffrey Abrams, the regional director of the Anti-Defamation League in Los Angeles, said during the briefing. "We stand here today in solidarity and gratitude and thanks for our law enforcement partners. We ask that everyone, Jewish and non-Jewish alike, stand up against this growing antisemitism."

ABC News' Ashley Riegle contributed to this report.