Three individuals attacked two elderly Jewish men outside a restaurant in San Jose, hurling anti-Semitic insults during the incident, which has been classified as a “hate crime” by police reports.
Ramon Acoyans, 18, Roma Acoyans, 20, and Brunille Chamaki, 32, surrendered to law enforcement on Monday. They’ve been charged with felony assault, with Chamaki facing an extra misdemeanor assault charge.
Despite the nature of the attack, Santa Clara State Attorney Jeff Rosen opted not to pursue hate crime charges. This decision is particularly perplexing since the victims reported the attackers used anti-Semitic language during the assault.
Witnesses observed that as the suspects fled, they may have remarked “nothing to do with Iran,” according to an internal police document. This seemed indicative of a broader context around the attack that officers noted when they arrived on the scene.
The police report details that the incident occurred on March 8, 2026, around 3:38 p.m. It mentioned that the victims were conversing in Hebrew when the suspects overheard them. One of the assailants reportedly shouted, “F—, Jews,” before they all began the assault.
Notably, police often recommend charges based on their assessments, but it’s ultimately up to district attorneys in the region to decide which charges will be pursued in court.
The reasons behind Rosen’s decision—given that he himself is an observant Jew—remain unclear. In California, hate crime charges necessitate proving that the attack was motivated by animosity, which could lead to an extra year in prison if established.
According to Sean Webby, a spokesperson for Rosen’s office, they are still examining the evidence surrounding the case. “The investigation is ongoing,” he stated, indicating that law enforcement is working to clarify the events that unfolded.
Witness accounts indicate that the elderly men were speaking Hebrew when they were attacked. A disturbing video recorded by a bystander captures the assailants mercilessly striking the victims, even as they lay defenseless on the ground.
One attacker notably grabbed a victim’s leg, while another used an elbow against them. Chamaki, the oldest suspect, had been admitted to the California Bar as a corporate lawyer in 2023, but it appears that his law firm has since removed online references to him.
Records indicate that these suspects had previously displayed anti-Semitic tendencies, as revealed by anonymous tips to the police, suggesting that the assault was planned rather than random. An informant noted that they had heard the suspects express anti-Semitic views, and even praised the Ayatollah of Iran.
The suspects had a history of posting images online with firearms, and it seems they were acquainted through the Assyrian community in the Bay Area. Various posts capture them together at shooting ranges and mixed martial arts events.
As of now, comments from the suspects have not been made available.
