The LAPD arrested the suspect on May 19 following a surveillance operation in South Los Angeles. (photo by Edwin Folven)

A suspect from South Los Angeles accused of attacking a Jewish man in the Pico-Robertson District on April 27 is facing a felony hate crime charge, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.

Semaj De Leone James, 21, was arrested on May 19 after police identified him as the lone suspect in the attack. At approximately 9:50 p.m. on April 27, James allegedly followed the victim as he walked from a synagogue in the 9000 block of West Pico Boulevard and entered an alley. Prosecutors said James drove up in a van, got out and suddenly attacked the man, shoving him up against a wall. After a brief struggle, the suspect got back into his vehicle and drove away.

Authorities believe the victim was targeted because he is Jewish. The victim told media outlets the suspect stated “free Palestine” during the assault.

“Attacking someone because of their faith is not just a crime against one person, it’s an assault on our community,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said. “When individuals commit crimes motivated by prejudice or intolerance, they must answer for the harm they’ve caused. Every person has a fundamental civil right to worship freely without being harassed, attacked or threatened. I want every resident in Los Angeles County to know that my office will aggressively prosecute hate crimes against our communities.”

The crime was captured by a security camera. Detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department’s West Los Angeles Division, working with agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, identified James as the suspect and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Authorities conducted a surveillance operation and took James into custody on May 19 in South Los Angeles. He was charged with one felony count of violation of civil rights by force. James pleaded not guilty on May 20 and is next scheduled to appear in court on June 4.

“ADL Los Angeles welcomes the filing of felony hate crime charges in the violent attack on a Jewish man walking home from synagogue in Pico-Robertson,” ADL LA Senior Regional Director David Englin said. “This attack comes amid a troubling rise in violent antisemitism. According to ADL’s 2025 audit, antisemitic assaults in the Los Angeles region increased 22% last year. We are in regular contact with the victim while he navigates this process. We are grateful to the Los Angeles Police Department, the FBI and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for treating this case with the seriousness it deserves.”

The court released James on his own recognizance – over the prosecution’s objection, according to the District Attorney’s Office – and ordered James to stay away from the location of the crime. If convicted, he faces up to three years in jail.