Three Men Charged in Alleged Antisemitic Assault at San Jose’s Santana Row
Santa Clara County prosecutors have charged three men, including California attorney Bruneil Henry Chamaki, in connection with a March 8, 2026 daytime assault outside the Augustine restaurant in San Jose’s upscale Santana Row district, after Israeli‑American victims reported that antisemitic slurs were shouted during the attack. Chamaki, 32, of Morgan Hill, and brothers Roma and Ramon Akoyans have each surrendered on arrest warrants and face a mix of felony and misdemeanor assault and battery counts, with arraignment set for May 12. District Attorney Jeff Rosen said his office is not yet filing hate‑crime enhancements but is actively investigating the incident as a potential antisemitic hate crime, stressing that "our public spaces have to be safe for all to enjoy without fear." San Jose police say surveillance footage, social media clips and public tips helped identify the suspects, and they are continuing to work "methodically" with prosecutors as community concern over antisemitic incidents and bias‑motivated violence remains high nationwide. Chamaki’s former firm, Murphy Austin Adams Schoenfeld LLP, said he left in January and issued a statement condemning antisemitism and "acts of hatred in any form," reflecting broader backlash online to reports that a licensed lawyer is among the accused.
📌 Key Facts
- The alleged assault occurred March 8, 2026 outside the Augustine restaurant at Santana Row in San Jose, California, targeting Israeli‑American men who were speaking Hebrew.
- Defendants Bruneil Henry Chamaki of Morgan Hill and brothers Roma and Ramon Akoyans have been charged with felony and misdemeanor assault and battery and are due in court May 12, 2026.
- Victims told police antisemitic language was used during the confrontation; DA Jeff Rosen has not yet added hate‑crime charges but is investigating that possibility.
- San Jose police say surveillance video, social media and public tips led to the suspects’ identification, and all three surrendered on arrest warrants without incident.
- Chamaki is a licensed attorney who previously worked at Murphy Austin Adams Schoenfeld LLP, which says he has not been affiliated with the firm since January and publicly condemned antisemitism and violence.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2024, the FBI reported 1,938 anti-Jewish hate crime incidents in the US, marking a record high and accounting for 69% of all religion-based hate crimes, while Jewish people make up approximately 2% of the US population.
FBI Data: 69% of religion-based hate crimes targeted Jews — Jewish Federations of North America
According to FBI data for 2024, the majority of known offenders in anti-Jewish hate crimes in the US were White, with 1,043 known offenders reported overall for these incidents.
Anti-Jewish hate crimes rise, remain most common in US — The Jerusalem Post
In California, reported hate crimes overall declined in 2023, but religion-based incidents increased sharply, with anti-Jewish hate crimes rising significantly amid broader trends.
Hate Crimes Fell in California Last Year, but Religion-based Incidents Increased Sharply — Public Policy Institute of California
San Jose, California, has a population of approximately 983,489 as of 2023, with racial composition including 37.5% Asian, 30.9% Hispanic or Latino, 24.8% White alone, and 2.9% Black or African American; estimates suggest the Jewish population in the San Jose metro area is around 1-2%, similar to national averages.
San Jose city, California - QuickFacts — U.S. Census Bureau
📰 Source Timeline (1)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time