An unfortunate incident shook Pico-Robertson, a neighborhood in Los Angeles known for its significant Jewish populace, where two men were shot as they exited religious events. The victims managed to survive the grave incident. Jaime Tran, a 30-year old ex-dental student from Riverside, California, who was held responsible for the shootings, was handed a 35-year prison term this Monday as per the statement from federal prosecutors.
Tran pleaded guilty on the 3rd of June to two hate crime charges harboring intentions to kill and a couple of offenses related to the use, possession, and discharge of a firearm during a violent crime. Federal bodies emphasized that no Jewish citizens should feel threatened or vulnerable that their display of faith could potentially make them a subject of a hate crime, as expressed by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.
The crime incidents occurred consecutively on two days in February 2023, inflicting a wave of fear and distress upon Los Angeles’s Jewish community. Officially stated, the victims were chosen due to their religious apparel of black coats and head coverings, which were reflective of their Jewish faith.
As per statements from the local police and federal entities in Los Angeles, Tran had fired at the two victims from close quarters as they exited the synagogues in Pico-Robertson, a neighborhood renowned for its large Jewish population and an abundance of synagogues. The initial shooting was reported to take place around 9:55 a.m. on February 15, 2023, with the subsequent one happening the very next day at about 8:30 a.m.
The victims, who survived, were recognized for wearing yarmulkes. The names of the victims and the synagogues they were associated with were kept confidential in the court papers.
According to judicial documents, Tran, in a taped dialogue with the federal investigators, expressed that the shooting of both men was indeed intentional. He further mentioned that he researched kosher markets in Los Angeles on the internet to decide on the location.
Tran elaborated that he was able to distinguish that the victims were Jewish based on their attire and ‘head gear.’ Authorities apprehended Tran the day following the second shooting in Cathedral City, California, which is nearly 125 miles distant from the sites of shootings.
The perpetrator was seized following a report by an onlooker who noticed someone discharging a firearm behind a motel. As reported by the prosecution, during his arrest, Tran shared with the officers that he had been ‘practicing’ with his weapon of assault.
On a closing note, Tran conveyed his relief over the fact that none of the shooting incidents had resulted in fatalities.