Los Angeles Man Who Shot 2 Jewish Men as They Left Synagogues Charged With Hate Crimes

A Los Angeles man has been charged with two hate crimes after he reportedly shot two Jewish men earlier this week.

In a press release on Friday, U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said Jaime Tran allegedly targeted and shot two Jewish men while they were leaving religious services at two separate synagogues in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood.

The separate shootings occurred Wednesday and Thursday, about three blocks apart, prompting police to launch an "exhaustive" search for the suspect, CNN reported.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said Tran was arrested Thursday in Riverside County, where he previously resided. Police noted that investigators found several pieces of evidence, including a handgun and a rifle.

Estrada said Tran targeted the two Jewish men "because they were Jewish or he believed them to be Jewish" and was "motivated by hate." The 28-year-old Los Angeles man was reportedly ordered jailed without bond and will be arraigned on March 9.

Los Angeles Man Shoots 2 Jewish Men on Different Occasions

Police said the two Jewish men were taken to local hospitals and were already in stable condition. Officials did not publicly identify the two victims, who wore clothing that showed their Jewish faith, including black coats and head coverings.

According to police, the first shooting happened around 10 a.m. on Wednesday in the 1400 block of Shenandoah Street. Tran reportedly shot the victim from a car and then drove away.

The second shooting occurred around 8:30 a.m. on Thursday in the 1600 block of S. Bedford Street, KTLA reported. The suspect, driving a white car, also fled after shooting the victim.

While there was no report on the first victim's specific wounds, the second victim was reportedly shot in the arm. Jewish residents in the area were convinced that the victims were singled out because of their faith.

Los Angeles Man Who Shot 2 Jewish Men Is Asian

According to the New York Post, Jaime Tran was described as an Asian man with a goatee and a mustache. A law enforcement source told the Los Angeles Times that Tran has a history of hatred toward Jewish people.

Vivian Eisenstaedt, a local resident who said she knows one of the victims, told KTLA that the victim told her after the shooting that "this is a miracle" that nothing worse happened to him, and "he just wants to move on."

Condemning the hate-fueled shootings, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass tweeted that "these attacks against members of our Jewish community are unacceptable."

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, whose district includes the Pico-Robertson neighborhood, said these incidents were "deeply concerning," adding that they have seen a rise in antisemitic attacks in recent months.

"And while there remain questions on the motivation of these particular shootings, we cannot ignore the pain and trauma that they have triggered in the community," she tweeted.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Separate Shootings of Jewish Men in LA Neighborhood Believed to Be Linked - From ABC7