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The man accused of targeting two Jewish men and shooting them last month in Los Angeles has been indicted by a grand jury on federal hate crime charges.
The federal grand jury issued an indictment Friday charging Jaime Tran, 28, with four hate crime counts. Tran was indicted on two counts of willfully causing bodily injury and attempting to kill and two counts of discharging a firearm in relation to the crimes.
On the mornings of Feb. 15 and Feb. 16, Tran allegedly planned and carried out shootings targeting two Jewish men after they left synagogues, the indictment says.
Tran was arrested on Feb. 17 on a criminal complaint and charged with hate crimes by federal prosecutors.
Friday’s grand jury indictment allows the case to proceed to a trial in which the suspect could be convicted.
Tran allegedly acquired at least two firearms before the attacks and performed internet searches for “kosher markets” to learn areas where Jewish people congregate, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California said.
Both victims were wearing clothing that identified their faith, including black coats and yarmulkes when the suspect shot them in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood of LA, officials said. The first victim was shot at close range, the indictment says.
Both unidentified men survived the shootings.
HATE CRIME CHARGES:Feds charge man with hate crimes in shootings of 2 Jewish men
What is a hate crime?
A hate crime, by definition, includes a motivation rooted in bias, according to the Justice Department. Bias can be based on a victim’s perceived or actual race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability.
These crimes are usually of a violent nature, and may also include threats of violence. The FBI notes hate crimes may be wholly or partially motivated by bias, but that hate alone without the addition of a criminal act is not illegal.
The Department of Justice says:
“Hate crimes have a broader effect than most other kinds of crime. Hate crime victims include not only the crime’s immediate target but also others like them. Hate crimes affect families, communities, and at times, the entire nation.”
Violence against Jewish Americans on the rise
The hate crimes in LA come amidst a sharp increase in attacks and rhetoric against Jewish Americans in recent years.
In 2021, the U.S. saw the highest-ever number of incidents targeting Jewish Americans according to the Americans Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish civil rights group that has been tallying attacks on the Jewish community since 1979
This year, a survey from the ADL found the number of Americans who hold extensive antisemitic prejudice and believe in antisemitic tropes has doubled since 2019.
Suspect had history of making antisemitic threats
According to the indictment, Tran developed and espoused antisemitic beliefs and made violent threats toward Jewish people going back to 2018.
In 2022, Tran’s antisemitic statements escalated and he used increasingly violent language, including against a former classmate whom he repeatedly called and texted, saying he wanted him dead, the indictment says.
In November, Tran allegedly emailed two dozen former classmates a flyer containing antisemitic propaganda.
Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY; Associated Press
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