Updated March 16 at 4:45 p.m.
Felony and misdemeanor charges have been filed against three men in the daytime beating of two Israeli Americans in San Jose, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office announced Monday.
Bruneil Henry Chamaki, 32, of Morgan Hill, Roma Akoyans, 20, and Ramon Akoyans, 18, both of San Jose, were arrested and charged, although the specific charges were not released. The DA office’s statement characterized the March 8 incident as both a “violent assault” and a “brawl.”
“The charges reflect the gravity of a violent assault in public between strangers, and the dangerousness of hitting and kicking someone while they are down,” according to the statement from the office of District Attorney Jeff Rosen.
The DA’s office added that the “charges do not reflect allegations of a hate crime at this time. However, this remains an active investigation.” San Jose police originally said they were investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.
Video of the Sunday afternoon incident, outside an upscale restaurant on San Jose’s Santana Row, circulated widely on the internet and drew condemnations from local and state officials. The victims said they were assaulted after speaking Hebrew.
Two videos obtained by J. show three men with dark hair and dark shirts repeatedly punching two men on the ground, while witnesses shout for them to stop. The three men then run out of frame, their faces exposed.
Initial reports on social media portrayed the incident as a targeted antisemitic assault, and one of the victims said in an interview with J. that an assailant uttered “f***ing Jew” during the attack. The video footage quickly caught the attention of public officials.
“Antisemitism and all acts of hatred have no place in San José,” Mayor Matt Mahan, who is running for governor, posted on X on March 10, adding that he was in touch with law enforcement and Jewish community leaders about what he called a “deeply disturbing incident.”
“This is disgusting,” Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press office posted on X on March 11, sharing a video of the assault. “Thank you, San Jose PD, for investigating.”
The two Israeli Americans are Lior Zeevi, 47, and Daniel Levy, 48, who are originally from Haifa.
Rosen denounced the attack in Monday’s statement.
“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,” Rosen said. “Our public spaces have to be safe for all to enjoy without fear.”
The suspects “self-surrendered” to San Jose police on Monday, the statement said. An arraignment for the three men is scheduled for May 12.