LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� A California man was sentenced Monday to 35 years in prison for shooting and wounding in Los Angeles last year, federal prosecutors said.
Jaime Tran, 30, pleaded guilty in June to with intent to kill and two counts of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, the U.S. attorney鈥檚 office said in a statement.
The February 2023 shootings had raised fears among the city鈥檚 Jewish community after officials said the victims were targeted because they wore clothing that identified their faith, including black coats and head coverings. Both men survived.
Tran told law enforcement that he looked online for a 鈥渒osher market鈥� and decided to shoot someone nearby, according to an FBI affidavit.
Tran had a 鈥渉istory of antisemitic and threatening conduct,鈥� the affidavit said, citing a review of emails, text messages and unspecified reports.
鈥淭argeting people for death based solely on their religious and ethnic background brings back memories of the darkest chapters in human history,鈥� U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said. 鈥淲e hope the sentence imposed today sends a strong message to all in our community that we will not tolerate antisemitism and hate of any sort."
In 2022, the FBI affidavit said, Tran emailed former classmates using insulting language about Jewish people and also threatened a Jewish former classmate, repeatedly sending messages like 鈥淪omeone is going to kill you, Jew鈥� and 鈥淚 want you dead, Jew.鈥�
鈥淎s millions of Jewish Americans prepare to observe the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the Justice Department reaffirms its commitment to aggressively confronting, disrupting, and prosecuting criminal acts motivated by antisemitism, or by hatred of any kind,鈥� U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in the statement. "No Jewish person in America should have to fear that any sign of their identity will make them the victim of a hate crime.鈥�
The Associated Press
