News Releases

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced today that a 33-year-old man has been charged in a brutal hate-motivated attempted murder of a 74-year-old security guard in Pomona last month.

“The elderly gentleman in this case was protecting the safety of others when he was viciously attacked. Our country has a long and storied history of racism.” District Attorney Gascón said. “We cannot hide it any longer. Racism is a poison that we must boldly confront and oppose to bring about its end. My office will prosecute these crimes to make sure those who violently act out on their hateful beliefs are held accountable.”

Jose Manuel Quezada Jr. (dob 10/11/89) is charged with one felony count each of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and elder abuse. A hate crime allegation was filed along with special allegations of the use of a deadly weapon and infliction of great bodily injury on an elderly victim. Quezada also was charged in case KA131573 with a misdemeanor count of exhibiting a deadly weapon.

He made his initial appearance today in Department N of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Pomona Branch. His arraignment was continued to Nov. 15.

It is alleged that on Sept. 13, Quezada made racist remarks toward the security guard, who is Black, and attacked him in the parking lot of Pomona’s Rio Rancho Towne Center, where the victim was working.

The case remains under investigation by the Pomona Police Department.