Three men charged for attack on 2 Israeli-Americans in San Jose
Suspects accused of felony and misdemeanor charges, but not hate crimes, after assault on men speaking Hebrew outside restaurant
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Police in California on Monday filed charges against three men for an alleged attack on two Israeli-Americans last week.
The suspects were charged with felonies and misdemeanors, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office said.
The office named the suspects as Bruneil Henry Chamaki, 32, Roma Akoyans, 20, and Ramon Akoyans, 18.
The suspects turned themselves in to authorities and are all residents of the San Jose area.
The attack took place in front of a restaurant in Santana Row, a commercial area of San Jose.
“We won’t tolerate pummeling a victim on the ground in front of a restaurant or anywhere, and we will hold the perpetrators fully accountable,” said Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen. “Our public spaces have to be safe for all to enjoy without fear.”
The district attorney’s office said the charges “do not reflect allegations of a hate crime at this time,” but noted that “this remains an active investigation.”
The suspects will be arraigned on May 12.
The victims of the attack, who were hospitalized, said they had been heard speaking Hebrew, and that the assailants had said, “Don’t mess with Iran,” and, “Fuck the Jews,” during the assault.
One of the victims was knocked unconscious and required stitches, and the other was treated for serious cuts and bruises.
Part of the attack was caught on video, sparking alarm among local Jewish groups.
JCRC is aware of a disturbing incident at Santana Row in San Jose in which two Israeli Americans were brutally attacked while speaking Hebrew. After arriving at a restaurant, they were approached by three unknown individuals and punched multiple times, leaving one victim briefly… pic.twitter.com/GZ9IkMnxfU
— JCRC Bay Area (@SFJCRC) March 10, 2026
The footage showed the assailants pummeling one of the victims with elbows and fists as he lay on the sidewalk, as other diners sat at tables.
Antisemitic incidents have surged worldwide since the start of the war, sparked when Hamas launched its devastating cross-border assault against Israel on October 7, 2023, in which it killed some 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.
According to a study published in October, more than half of Jewish Americans say they had experienced antisemitism over the preceding year, and many now consider such hostility a normal part of Jewish life.
The Times of Israel Community.