4 suspects identified after violence at Trump protest in San Jose

From left to right: Ahmed Abdirahman, 19; Robert Trillo, 18; Antonio Fernandez, 19; and Michael Kitaigorodsky, 19 were arrested after violence broke out Thursday night in San Jose outside a Donald Trump campaign rally. less From left to right: Ahmed Abdirahman, 19; Robert Trillo, 18; Antonio Fernandez, 19; and Michael Kitaigorodsky, 19 were arrested after violence broke out Thursday night in San Jose outside a Donald Trump ... more Photo: San Jose Police Department Photo: San Jose Police Department Image 1 of / 54 Caption Close 4 suspects identified after violence at Trump protest in San Jose 1 / 54 Back to Gallery

After coming under fire from Republican leaders for its handling of protests outside a Donald Trump campaign rally and vowing the violence “will not go unchecked,” the San Jose Police Department on Tuesday released the identities of four teenagers arrested last week.

Ahmed Abdirahman and Antonio Fernandez, both 19, and Robert Trillo, 18, face charges of assault with a deadly weapon. A fourth man, Michael Kitaigorodsky, 19, was arrested for allegedly refusing to follow dispersal orders. Abdirahman is from Santa Clara. The others are from San Jose.

Officials did not release further details, such as what weapons the men allegedly used.

“The violent behavior exhibited by some protesters last night was reprehensible, completely unacceptable and unrepresentative of our democracy and our city,” San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia told reporters a day after Thursday’s rally.

Garcia formed a task force that’s been working to review photos and video footage to identify anyone who may have committed crimes.

Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee for president, on Twitter and Facebook accused San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo of doing “a terrible job of ordering the protection of innocent people.” He also called the protesters “thugs” and “illegals.”

Liccardo fired off a statement on Twitter saying he condemned the violence, but noted the clashes have become commonplace across the country when Trump comes to town.

“Nothing that Donald Trump says absolves those individuals of responsibility for their violent conduct last night,” the mayor said. “It is regrettable that this has become a pattern for cities hosting Mr. Trump across the nation.”