Hate Crime in Fairfax District Sparks Outrage

FAIRFAX DISTRICT, Aug. 24, 2007 (KABC-TV) (KABC) -- L.A. Police stepped up their patrols in the Fairfax District Friday night after a pellet gun attack against two Jewish rabbinical students. City leaders are outraged over the hate crime.

Police say the shooting spree lasted through Thursday night into the early Friday morning. Two young men in a black Lexus were shooting at people randomly with a pellet gun but in the Fairfax District neighborhood they chose their targets specifically and now they stand accused of a hate crime.

As the sun set on the predominantly Jewish neighborhood the extra police presence was hard to miss and that's exactly what city officials wanted.

"We will not rest. We will not relent until we find those who are responsible for these hate-based, hate-filled acts," Assistant Chief Earl Paysinger, of the LAPD, said.

At about 10 p.m. Thursday night, two young Jewish men dressed in traditional Orthodox attire were walking near La Brea. Police say two young black men in a late model black Lexus sedan drove by, shouted anti-Semitic remarks, then opened fire with a pellet gun.

"It wasn't two young rabbinical students that were shot at ... it was every one of us," Rabbi Boruch Shlomo Cunin, the West Coast Director of Chabad, said.

At a news conference Friday, city and community leaders denounced what they said was a blatant hate crime.

"(The) incident serves as a reminder that racism, prejudice and injustice still exist," L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, said.

L.A. City Councilman Jack Weiss, who represents the area, organized Friday's news conference. Several weeks ago, one of his offices was vandalized when swastikas were glued onto the building.

"My office was targeted but just the office was struck. Here we have someone actually firing a weapon at human beings just because they're Jewish. It's an absolute outrage and we're going to get these people and we're going to put them behind bars," Weiss said.

Investigators with the LAPD say they were at least five other pellet gun incidents from about 10 p.m. on Thursday to about 4 a.m. on Friday.

They're not sure if they're all related but they're pretty sure they are.

They are still trying to get more information on this case and get a better idea of who is responsible. Those two men in that car could face attempted murder charges and hate crime enhancements.

If you have any information regarding the case you are asked to call 1-877-LAW-FULL.

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