A former Riverside resident, Jaime Tran, has been sentenced to 35 years in prison by U.S. District Judge George Wu for a hate crime shooting that occurred in Pico-Robertson last year. Tran, who had a history of making antisemitic remarks, shot and wounded two Jewish men as they left synagogues, leaving the local Jewish community on edge in early 2023.
During the sentencing, Judge Wu cited Tran’s mental health issues as a reason for not imposing the 40-year sentence sought by prosecutors. The survivor identified as “Mr. H” expressed his fear for his safety, stating that he could have easily been killed if the bullet had hit slightly differently. He believed that 40 years would have been a more appropriate sentence for an attempt on two lives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathrynne Seiden highlighted the emotional impact on the victims, who felt sad, scared, traumatized, and disillusioned. One of the victims expressed his fear of being targeted again, feeling unrepresented in the country and looking to the court and justice system to condemn such intolerance.
Tran, 30, pleaded guilty to two counts of hate crimes with intent to kill and two counts of using, carrying, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. His attorney, Katherine T. Corrigan, acknowledged the seriousness of the antisemitism but stated that it appeared to have ceased. Corrigan commended Judge Wu for the sentence, which she believed incorporated mental health treatment.
Tran’s plea agreement revealed a history of escalating antisemitism, including hateful statements and the dissemination of antisemitic propaganda. Despite being prohibited from purchasing firearms due to previous mental health episodes, Tran admitted to paying someone to buy him a pistol and a semiautomatic rifle.
On February 15, 2023, Tran targeted a Jewish man wearing a yarmulke, shooting him at close range in the back. The following day, he shot another man leaving religious services, intending to kill him. Both victims survived the attacks. Tran was arrested on February 17 and has been in custody since.
U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California condemned the hate-fueled violence, stating that targeting individuals based on their religious and ethnic background evoked memories of the darkest chapters in human history.
In a press conference following the hearing, Dr. Irving Lebovics, Chairman of Agudath Israel of California, emphasized the need for love and diversity in the city, particularly as Rosh Hashanah approached and the anniversary of the shooting neared.
