Men accused of beating man at San Jose diner not charged with hate crime
Three suspects accused of brutally assaulting two Israeli-Americans outside a diner in San Jose, Northern California, will not face hate crime charges in the attack, prosecutors revealed. The three men – Ramon Akoyans, 18, Roma Akoyans, 20, and Bruneil Chamaki, 32 – were hit with felony assault charges, while Chamaki faces an additional misdemeanor battery charge after they turned themselves in to the San Jose Police Department on Monday. Investigators had been looking at the attack as a potential hate crime after the Hebrew-speaking victims alleged their attackers used antisemitic language.
It’s not clear why prosecutors did not move forward with hate crime charges, though the Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office said the case “remains an active investigation.” Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the attacks as “disgusting” and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said that “antisemitism and all acts of hatred have no place in San Jose.”
The shocking assault took place in broad daylight on March 8 outside the upmarket restaurant Augustine on Santana Row. Onlookers said the suspects heard the victims speaking Hebrew and stopped to attack them as they passed by. The attackers allegedly spoke Farsi during the attacks and said things like, “Don’t f–k with Iran!” Witnesses said the men also said, “F–k Jews.”
Chamaki, the oldest of the three, was admitted to the California State Bar in 2023 and was listed as a corporate attorney. The law firm he worked for appeared to take down any postings about him online. The three had previously posted chilling photos and videos of themselves posing with high-powered guns. Images and clips shared online showed the Akoyans suspects holding weapons, including handguns and semi-automatic AR-15-style rifles. One clip showed Ramon firing several rounds from the rifle, while another photo showed the pair standing with a group of armed men – one holding a sign reading, “I’m an Assyrian solider currently serving Assyrians in this department.” It’s not clear which department the sign referred to.
The victims have yet to publicly respond to the lack of hate charges for the men. None of the victims accepted hospitalization but suffered cuts and head pain after the attack. The three men are expected to be arraigned on the charges in May and have been released on bail.
