Three Men Charged in Alleged Antisemitic Attack at San Jose's Santana Row

District Attorney files felony assault charges, but holds off on hate crime label for now

Mar. 18, 2026 at 4:24am

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Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen has filed felony assault charges against three men for an alleged attack on two strangers outside a Santana Row restaurant in San Jose on March 8. Police had initially described the incident as an antisemitic hate crime, with the suspects yelling anti-Semitic messages while assaulting the victims, who were speaking Hebrew. However, Rosen has avoided the hate crime label for now, saying the investigation is ongoing.

Why it matters

The alleged attack has rocked San Jose's Jewish community, coming amid a rise in anti-Semitic incidents across the U.S. in recent years. The case highlights the challenges in prosecuting hate crimes and the importance of thorough investigations to determine the appropriate charges.

The details

The three suspects - Bruneil Henry Chamaki, 32, of Morgan Hill, and San Jose brothers Roma Akoyans, 20, and Ramon Akoyans, 18 - surrendered to police on March 16 and are scheduled to be arraigned on May 12. According to police reports, the suspects yelled anti-Semitic comments at the two victims, who were identified as Jewish, after hearing them speaking Hebrew. The suspects then physically assaulted the victims, punching and kicking them for about 20 seconds before fleeing the scene.

  • The incident occurred on March 8 at around 3:38 pm.
  • The three suspects surrendered to police on March 16.
  • The suspects are scheduled to be arraigned on May 12.

The players

Jeff Rosen

The Santa Clara County District Attorney, who filed felony assault charges against the three suspects but has not yet labeled the incident as a hate crime.

Bruneil Henry Chamaki

A 32-year-old Morgan Hill resident who is one of the three suspects charged in the alleged attack.

Roma Akoyans

A 20-year-old San Jose resident who is one of the three suspects charged in the alleged attack.

Ramon Akoyans

An 18-year-old San Jose resident who is one of the three suspects charged in the alleged attack.

Daniel Klein

The CEO of Jewish Silicon Valley, who called the incident "extremely disturbing" and said the Jewish community has had to operate in a concerning environment for several years.

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What they’re saying

“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. Our public spaces have to be safe for all to enjoy without fear.”

— Jeff Rosen, Santa Clara County District Attorney (sanjoseinside.com)

“I wish our community was surprised by this incident, but unfortunately, this has been the environment that the Jewish community has had to operate in for several years now.”

— Daniel Klein, CEO of Jewish Silicon Valley (sanjoseinside.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on May 12 whether or not to allow the three suspects to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges in addressing anti-Semitism and hate crimes, and the importance of thorough investigations to determine the appropriate charges. It also underscores the need for continued vigilance and community support to ensure public spaces remain safe and welcoming for all.