Bat-Wielding Driver Hurls Anti-Semitic Slurs at Shoppers
A man armed with a baseball bat attacked a Jewish couple near Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade, hurling antisemitic slurs before releasing his dog on a victim.
The incident erupted around 5:30 p.m. Sunday near 3rd Street and Broadway, just steps from the iconic shopping district that has become increasingly plagued by empty storefronts, public safety failures, and vanishing foot traffic, according to New York Post.
Santa Monica Police identified the suspect as Tar Nay, who was driving along Broadway when he abruptly stopped in traffic and began screaming threats at two pedestrians crossing the street.
Video of the attack was posted on Instagram by Benjamin Basire, who told the outlet the victims themselves brought the footage to his attention and asked him to share it publicly while they remained anonymous.
Basire, who described himself as active in the Jewish community and outspoken against antisemitism, said the couple specifically requested he speak on their behalf after the attack.
The video shows Nay exiting his gray Chevrolet SUV and pursuing the couple while shouting “genocidal” and “genocide.” The victims believe they were targeted because of their religion.
Investigators said Nay brandished a baseball bat from inside his vehicle before stopping in the middle of the intersection and chasing one of the victims on foot. His dog, a male Cane Corso, then joined the assault, chasing the victim and biting him on the thigh.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene in which the suspect repeatedly jumped in and out of his vehicle, screaming at pedestrians and chasing people through the street. At one point, someone recording the incident could be heard saying he’s tweaking before the suspect allegedly returned with the dog and resumed his rampage.
Officers from the Santa Monica Police Department’s Downtown Services Unit later located Nay on 4th Street and arrested him. Detectives collected witness statements and video evidence from the area while determining whether the incident constitutes a hate-motivated crime.
The department is evaluating witness accounts, reports, body-worn camera recordings, and other available video footage as part of the ongoing investigation.
The victim received treatment at the scene from the Santa Monica Fire Department for what police described as a minor injury from the dog bite. No further medical attention was required.
Nay was booked into the Santa Monica Jail on charges of assault with a deadly weapon and criminal threats. Animal Control officers seized the dog and transported it to a local shelter.
Lieutenant Gilmour confirmed detectives are investigating whether the confrontation involved hate-motivated conduct. Police said the case has been submitted to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration, with additional charges or sentencing enhancements possible depending on the evidence.
The violent attack adds to mounting concerns about conditions in downtown Santa Monica, where businesses near the Third Street Promenade continue struggling years after the pandemic devastated retail traffic. Commercial vacancy rates along the pedestrian corridor remain between 20 and 30 percent, with longtime retailers departing despite aggressive city intervention efforts.
With information from New York Post
