Teen Attacked, Hate Crime Charges Filed in San Jose

San Jose Teen Attacked, Slur Hurled by Unhoused Man: Hate Crime Charges Filed San Jose, CA – A 15-year-old San Jose high school student was violently attacked and subjected to a homophobic slur by an unhoused man on Friday, May 9th. The incident, which took place near Peter's Bakery on Alum Rock Avenue, has sparked outrage and prompted police to add a hate crime charge to the suspect's case. Tyler Kintz, the victim, recounted the incident, stating, "A random homeless guy...came up to me and smacked me as hard as he could." His mother, Michelle Martinez, added that she chased the suspect for several blocks before police arrived. Martinez stated, "I even cut through the middle of Alum Rock Avenue without the crosswalk; traffic was going, and he didn't frankly care." The suspect remains unidentified, but police have impounded his bicycle. The attack comes just days after another unhoused individual, Eli Scott, was arrested for allegedly stabbing a police officer. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan addressed the situation, stating that the victims of these recent incidents are "the unfortunate victims of our status quo approach to homelessness that puts civil liberty over safety." Gail Osmer, an unhoused advocate, while condemning the attacks, cautioned against generalizing the behavior of all unhoused individuals. The incident highlights the complex issues surrounding homelessness and safety in San Jose.