According to officials, a man accused of shooting and injuring two Jewish men as they exited synagogues in Los Angeles last month entered a not-guilty plea on Thursday.
Since officials said that the victims were targeted because they wore attire that recognized their beliefs, such as black coats and head coverings, the shootings on February 15 and February 16 caused anxiety in LA’s Jewish community.
They both escaped the violence.
Two accusations of hate crimes and two counts of using, carrying, and discharging a handgun during and in connection with a violent crime have been brought against 28-year-old Jaime Tran.
On Thursday, he pleaded not guilty in federal court. He is still being held without bond.
One of Tran’s attorneys, Kate Corrigan, stated that she anticipates receiving discovery-hearing evidence in the upcoming days while she puts together his defense.
She added on Thursday, “We’ll be looking at the broader picture in this instance and resolving the charges.
According to an affidavit submitted by the FBI, Tran admitted to police that he searched online for a “kosher market” before deciding to shoot someone nearby. The affidavit stated that he also admitted to shooting someone the day before.
A review of Tran’s emails, texts, and anonymous reports revealed that he had a “history of antisemitic and threatening conduct,” according to an FBI affidavit.
He frequently sent messages like “Someone is going to kill you, Jew” and “I want you dead, Jew” to a former Jewish student in 2022, according to the affidavit. He also threatened a former Jewish classmate.
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