FREMONT — A man suspected of brandishing a replica gun and yelling death threats at a freeway motorist whose car was adorned with an Israeli flag has been charged with a hate crime and other offenses, according to authorities and court records.
In addition to a misdemeanor count of violation of civil rights, which is a hate crime, the suspect, Jesus Hernandez Hernandez, 44, of Castro Valley, is also charged with felony criminal threats and misdemeanor brandishing a replica gun, the records say.
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Hernandez is free on his own recognizance and is scheduled to enter a plea Oct. 31.
According to authorities the victim told police he was driving on I-680 about 4 p.m. Sept. 12 with an Israeli flag outside his car window when another motorist in a Ford sedan tried to strike his vehicle and began yelling at him about the flag.
The other driver yelled “F— the Jews” and “they all deserve to die” before allegedly pointing a pistol at him and saying “I’ll kill you.” the documents say.
The victim followed the suspect off the freeway and onto Fremont city streets while calling 911, the documents say.
The suspect allegedly pointed the gun again at the victim again and told him to stop following him or he would kill him, the documents say.
Fremont police stopped the suspect’s vehicle in the area of Mission Boulevard and Denise Street and arrested Hernandez. A BB gun was found in the vehicle.
The victim positively identified him as the suspect in a field lineup. Hernandez refused to talk to police.