California Attorney and Two Others Charged Following Violent Daytime Antisemitic Assault in San Jose

A California lawyer and two others face charges after a violent daytime attack against Israeli-American men in San Jose's upscale Santana Row district.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 18, 2026, 4:26 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Fox News

A Violent Confrontation in a High-End District

The tranquility of Santana Row, a premier luxury shopping and dining destination in San Jose, was shattered on March 8 during a targeted physical assault. According to police reports, three men approached a group of Israeli-American men who were waiting for a table outside the Augustine restaurant. The victims, who were speaking Hebrew at the time, noticed the suspects observing them with hostility before the situation rapidly devolved into a physical altercation. Authorities state that the suspects initiated the violence after one victim inquired if the groups knew one another, leading to a sustained beating in full view of weekend shoppers.

Legal Professional Identified Among the Accused

The investigation reached a significant milestone with the surrender of three suspects, identified as Bruneil Henry Chamaki, Roma Akoyans, and Ramon Akoyans. Chamaki, a licensed California attorney, was formerly affiliated with the firm Murphy Austin Adams Schoenfeld LLP, which has since issued a statement condemning the violence and confirming he has not been with the firm since January. The legal background of one of the alleged attackers has added a layer of public scrutiny to the case, as the legal community reacts to the involvement of a trained officer of the court in a reported act of street violence.

Antisemitic Slurs and Political Provocations

Witness statements and victim testimonies describe a deeply motivated attack involving explicit expressions of religious and national hatred. KTVU reported that court documents allege the suspects shouted "F--- Jews" as the assault began. Furthermore, at least one witness recounted hearing a suspect yell "Don’t f--- with Iran" during the struggle. These details have sparked intense community concern regarding the rise of targeted harassment, though the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office has initially filed assault and battery charges rather than hate crime enhancements while they continue to analyze the evidence.