No hate crime charges confirmed after attack on Hebrew-speaking Israelis
Prosecutors confirm suspects will not face hate crime charges over San Jose assault despite reported antisemitic abuse
Three men accused of attacking two Israeli American men in California will not face hate crime charges, prosecutors have confirmed, despite reports of antisemitic abuse during the assault.
The suspects – Ramon Akoyans, 18, Roma Akoyans, 20, and Bruneil Henry Chamaki, 32 – have been charged with felony assault offences, with Chamaki also facing a misdemeanour battery charge.
They handed themselves in to San Jose Police earlier this week, just over a week after the attack, which took place in broad daylight outside Augustine restaurant on Santana Row.
The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office said the charges filed “do not reflect allegations of a hate crime,” adding that the case remains under investigation.
It is not clear why hate crime charges have not been brought, despite accounts from victims and witnesses that the attackers used antisemitic language.
The two victims, identified in US reports as Lior Zeevi, 47, and Daniel Levy, 48, said they were targeted after being overheard speaking Hebrew while waiting to be seated.
Footage of the incident, widely shared online, shows the pair being punched and knocked to the ground in front of diners and passers-by.
Witnesses reported hearing abuse during the attack, including “f***ing Jew” and “Don’t f*** with Iran.”
Police had previously indicated they were examining the incident as a potential hate crime, with reports suggesting the victims may have been targeted because of their ethnicity or nationality.
Separate images circulating online appear to show some of the suspects posing with firearms, including rifles and handguns. The images have not been formally linked to the assault by police.
Photo: Instagram/r_akoyans
Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen said: “We won’t tolerate pummelling a victim on the ground in front of a restaurant or anywhere, and we will hold the perpetrators fully accountable.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom described the assault as “disgusting”, while San Jose mayor Matt Mahan said “antisemitism and all acts of hatred have no place in San Jose.”
US reports indicate Chamaki had worked as a corporate attorney and was admitted to the California State Bar in 2023.
The three men are expected to appear in court in May.
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