A 28-year-old man arrested in connection with the shooting of two Jewish men outside a Los Angeles synagogue this week was charged Friday with a federal hate crime, authorities said.
The US Attorney’s Office has announced that Jaime Tran faces two counts of hate crimes in connection with the two shootings, which occurred in the morning hours on Wednesday and Thursday. Both victims sustained gunshot wounds but survived.
The federal complaint alleges that Tran targeted the two men because they were Jewish. If convicted of the charges, the prosecution said, he faced a maximum penalty of life in prison without parole.
Federal prosecutors said the shooting took place outside separate synagogues blocks apart in the same neighborhood as Pico Robertson. In both cases, the victims were leaving synagogues and were wearing clothing that “clearly identified their Jewish religion,” the US Attorney’s office said.
Both victims were shot at close range, the first in the lower back, and the second in the upper arm, according to US Attorney’s Office reports.
Prosecutors said the suspect identified the area as a ghetto after researching a business review application for a kosher market in Pico Robertson.
Los Angeles police said in a statement that Tran was tracked down and taken into custody Thursday in Riverside County. The investigators seized a rifle and a handgun.
The violence raised concerns among the city’s Jewish community, as police stepped up patrols around places of worship and officials denounced the attacks.
“That’s a relief,” tweeted the Southern California chapter of the Anti-Defamation League After the arrest was announced. “Tonight, we can rest in peace. Tomorrow, we will continue to fight anti-Semitism.”
“We are extremely grateful for the efforts of law enforcement authorities in apprehending the suspect,” the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles said in a statement. CBS Los Angeles reports.
CBSLA said the two synagogues are less than two blocks away.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the violence after news of the arrest broke.
“I want to be very clear: hate crimes and anti-Semitism have no place in our city or country,” Bass said. Whoever gets involved in either of them will be arrested and will be fully held accountable.”
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