The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office announced that they will be adding hate crime enhancements to armed robbery charges for three men accused of robbing Asians in the California Bay Area.
According to CBS News, authorities say the three suspects— ages 18, 19 and 21— are responsible for three armed robberies that occurred on April 17 in Palo Alto and Milpitas. The first two robberies occurred in the evening in South Palo Alto. The third took place around 9:14 p.m. in Milpitas.
The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office is now alleging that the men exclusively target Asian victims, Palo Alto Online reports. Authorities believed the suspects targeted them because of their perceived wealth.
The suspects threatened victims with guns during the robberies. According to Palo Alto Online, no injuries were reported.
The three men were scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday, April 20.
AsAmNews is published by the non-profit, Asian American Media Inc.
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