A man from southern California with a history of antisemitism has agreed to plead guilty to federal hate crime charges for shooting two Jewish men last year after they attended religious services, as per the Department of Justice.
Former resident of Riverside, Jaime Tran, aged 29, signed the plea agreement on Tuesday. He was charged with two counts of hate crimes with intent to kill and two counts of using, carrying, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
The shootings that took place last year at two different synagogues within 24 hours left the Los Angeles neighborhood in fear and deeply shocked the Jewish community. The attacks were deliberate and targeted, prosecutors revealed.
Tran had researched online for places like “kosher markets” before the shootings and admitted to law enforcement that he selected the victims based on their religious headgear.
In February 2023, he targeted a Jewish man leaving a synagogue in the Pico-Robertson area of Los Angeles. The victim was shot in the back at close range.
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The following day, Tran returned to the same area and shot another Jewish individual outside another synagogue. The victim was shot in the arm.
Both victims were wearing attire that clearly identified their Jewish faith, according to the prosecutors.
Tran’s intention was to kill the victims, as stated by the prosecutors. Fortunately, both victims survived the attacks.
Witness testimonies and surveillance images of Tran and his vehicle facilitated authorities in swiftly locating and apprehending him. Upon arrest, he was found in possession of a rifle and a handgun.
An investigation disclosed that Tran was prohibited from buying firearms due to previous mental health issues, but he managed to obtain firearms during a trip to Phoenix. He solicited a third party to purchase two firearms for him, paying $1,500 in cash.
Tran confessed to harboring antisemitic views and had previously made violent threats against Jewish individuals. In 2018, he intimidated fellow students at UCLA School of Dentistry whom he believed were Jewish.
His animosity escalated in 2022 with increasingly aggressive rhetoric. He sent antisemitic text messages to a former classmate and circulated a mass email to two dozen former classmates containing antisemitic propaganda.
Tran is scheduled to appear in court in downtown Los Angeles to formally enter his guilty plea to the charges in the upcoming weeks.
“Rather than let these horrendous crimes divide us, our community united and swiftly brought the perpetrator to justice. Hate and intolerance have no place in America,” he added.
As per the plea agreement, Tran is expected to receive a prison sentence ranging from 35 to 40 years.
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