Man Who Shot 2 Outside LA Synagogues Gets 35 Years In Prison

LOS ANGELES, CA — A man who shot two Jewish men as they were leaving synagogues in Los Angeles less than 24 hours apart last year was sentenced Monday to 35 years in federal prison.

Jaime Tran, 30, pleaded guilty in June to two counts of hate crimes with intent to kill and two counts of using, carrying and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

"After years of spewing antisemitic vitriol, the defendant planned and carried out a two-day attack attempting to murder Jews leaving synagogue in Los Angeles," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

On the morning of Feb. 15, 2023, Tran admitted he used the internet to research areas with a kosher market and planned to shoot someone near such a market because he believed there would be Jewish people in the area, according to prosecutors.

He later drove to LA's Pico-Robertson neighborhood and shot a Jewish man who was wearing a yarmulke as he was leaving services at a synagogue. He shot the man at close range in the back, intending to kill him, before driving away, prosecutors said.

The next morning Tran returned to Pico-Robertson and shot a second Jewish man, who was also wearing a yarmulke and leaving a synagogue. He shot the man at close range, intending to kill him, as he crossed the street. He then left the scene, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Tran was arrested the following day and has remained in custody since. Both victims survived the shootings.

Jewish Federation Los Angeles issued a statement declaring it is "pleased that justice will be served in the horrific antisemitic hate crime committed against two local Jewish community members — a violent act which shook our community."

Tran admitted to a history of espousing antisemitic beliefs and making violent threats toward Jewish people.

In 2018, he left dental school after making hate-filled statements about other students whom he perceived to be Jewish, prosecutors said.

His antisemitic statements escalated in 2022. He repeatedly called and texted a former classmate with messages such as "I want you dead, Jew. Someone is going to kill you, Jew" and "Burn in an oven chamber," prosecutors said.

Late that year he emailed two dozen former classmates a flyer containing antisemitic statements, including a statement blaming the COVID-19 pandemic on a Jewish conspiracy, prosecutors said.

Tran was prohibited from purchasing firearms as of last year due to previous mental health holds. Tran asked someone in January 2023 to buy two guns for him in Phoenix. He selected the firearms and paid $1,500 in cash to the person, who purchased the guns, prosecutors said.

City News Service contributed to this report.