San Jose Police Investigate Antisemitic Hate Crime After Santana Row Attack
Police investigate possible antisemitic motive after violent attack on two Jewish men in San Jose.
San Jose police are investigating a violent brawl at Santana Row as a possible antisemitic hate crime after two Jewish men were attacked by three assailants on Sunday afternoon, March 8, 2026. The incident unfolded outside the Augustin restaurant around 3:30 p.m., escalating from a verbal dispute into a brutal assault captured on bystander videos.
The victims, identified as Israeli Americans Lior Zeevi and Daniel Levy, were waiting on the patio and speaking Hebrew when the attackers approached, allegedly hurling antisemitic slurs like "f***ing Jew" and "don't mess with Iran." Footage shows the trio in black T-shirts punching, kicking, and pinning the men to the sidewalk amid shocked onlookers urging them to stop; the assault lasted about 30 seconds before the suspects fled.
Both victims sustained minor injuries, treated on-site by paramedics, with one reporting jaw pain and difficulty chewing. Police Assaults Unit confirmed the use of antisemitic language, classifying it as a potential hate crime; no arrests have been made, but the probe remains active with witness statements and video evidence. Zeevi noted a prior vandalism of his business with swastikas, suggesting a pattern of targeted hostility.
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Local leaders, including former Mayor Sam Liccardo, condemned the "deeply disturbing" attack as an assault on the entire community, while the Bay Area Jewish Community Relations Council highlighted risks to Jewish and Israeli residents. The timing coincides with global antisemitism spikes amid Middle East tensions, prompting calls for heightened vigilance in public spaces.
This Santana Row incident, in an upscale shopping district, underscores rising hate crimes in the Bay Area, with bystanders like Keanu Kahrobaie witnessing the ferocity without intervention due to its brevity. Authorities urge tips via 311 or anonymous lines to aid identification. As videos circulate widely, the case fuels debates on public safety and bias response, with Jewish organizations advocating swift prosecution to deter copycats in diverse California enclaves.
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