In a landmark case, a California man, Jaime Tran, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for committing a hate crime against two Jewish men in Los Angeles. The incident, which occurred last year, shook the city’s Jewish community and highlighted the alarming rise in anti-Semitic attacks.

Tran, 30, pleaded guilty to two counts of hate crimes with intent to kill and two counts of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The shootings, which took place outside synagogues, left the victims with serious injuries but thankfully both men survived.

According to law enforcement officials, Tran targeted the victims because of their religious identity, as they were wearing clothing that clearly identified them as Jewish. Tran’s actions were fueled by a history of antisemitic behavior and threatening conduct, as evidenced by his previous emails and messages filled with hateful language towards Jewish individuals.

U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada condemned Tran’s actions, stating “Targeting people for death based solely on their religious and ethnic background brings back memories of the darkest chapters in human history.” The sentencing of Tran serves as a strong message that antisemitism and hate crimes will not be tolerated in the community.

As the justice system holds perpetrators like Tran accountable, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the importance of aggressively confronting and prosecuting criminal acts motivated by antisemitism or hatred of any kind. Every individual, regardless of their background, should feel safe and protected from hate crimes.