Two shootings against members of the Pico-Robertson Jewish community were reported on two consecutive days on Wednesday and Thursday.
After an intensive search for the suspect, authorities announced on Thursday that one person had been arrested.
Jaime Tran, 28, a resident of Riverside, was identified on Friday as responsible for the two acts of violence.
The US Department of Justice’s Los Angeles office reported that Tran faces hate crime charges “for allegedly pointing and shooting at two Jewish men as they left religious services outside two Los Angeles synagogues.” “, According to the press release.
The investigation found that Tram attacked his victims “because they were Jewish or thought they were Jewish.” That’s why “the maximum legal sentence for each of the two hate crimes is life in prison without the possibility of parole in a federal prison,” they reported.
Both shootings took place in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood of Los Angeles. “Evidence uncovered during the investigation indicates that Tran located the Jewish Quarter after researching a popular business valuation application for a kosher market in the Pico-Robertson district. After locating the market, Tran allegedly visited drive to the area where the first shooting occurred.”
The shooting took place on February 15, 2023 just before 10:00 a.m. on Shenandoah Street. The second shooting took place around 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 16, 2023 in the 1600 block of South Bedford Street, according to an LAPD news release sent Thursday.
The shooter, the statement said, was described as a “man with a mustache and goatee, driving a white compact vehicle.”
Los Angeles police and the county sheriff’s department increased patrols around synagogues and Jewish neighborhoods Thursday after the shooting in the Pico-Robertson area.
The suspect shot the victim, described as a man in his 40s, who was transported to a local hospital, according to the LAPD.
A man in his 60s was also shot on Thursday morning by a fleeing suspect, the LAPD reported. Authorities responded at 8.30am to the second incident in the 1600 block of Bedford Street.
According to the LAPD report, the man was at the intersection of Bedford and Picford streets when the suspect drove slowly near the victim and shot him. The second victim was also taken to a local hospital.
Los Angeles Police have increased their police presence in the area to address community concerns, according to the LAPD statement.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Jewish groups condemned the events and called for tolerance and religious respect.