POWAY, Calif. — A 19-year-old man has been charged in connection with a deadly shooting at a synagogue in Poway, California, where Jewish worshipers had gathered Saturday to celebrate the last day of Passover.
Authorities confirmed the suspect, identified as John Earnest, turned himself in shortly after the attack, which left one woman dead and three other congregants wounded.
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Update 5 p.m. EDT April 30: Prosecutors said the 19-year-old man suspected of opening fire in a Southern California synagogue had a tactical vest, helmet and 50 unfired bullets when arrested.
John T. Earneste is charged killing Lori Kaye, who was shot twice with a semi-automatic rifle.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said Earnest then shot the congregation’s rabbi, who lost a finger. The shooter then turned toward a room of children and other adults.
Stephan said Earnest fired eight to 10 rounds before the gun either jammed or he wasn’t able to release the magazine to reload.
Earnest pleaded not guilty at his first court hearing Tuesday.
Update 7:15 p.m. EDT April 29: The woman killed in an attack on the Chabad of Poway synagogue Saturday has been laid to rest.
Lori Gilbert-Kaye, 60, who was shot and killed at the synagogue, was remembered Monday as devoted to her family and friends in a service at Chabad followed by a burial at El Camino Memorial Park, The Los Angeles Times reported.
She is survived by her husband, Howard, and daughter, Hannah.
Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein praised Gilbert-Kaye and credited her with saving his life.
“We will salute Lori and her life and keep her legacy alive,” Goldstein said.
He also said she leaves behind, “A legacy of goodness and kindness.”
"Countless people that may not know her name now need to know Lori Kay. She was the most amazing person... She is a symbol of random acts of kindness." Dr. Roneet Lev pays tribute to her best friend, Lori Gilbert Kaye, a San Diego synagogue shooting victim https://t.co/T4Zonk4w9r pic.twitter.com/ev0zBTcVRN
— CNN (@CNN) April 29, 2019
Update 2:10 p.m. EDT April 19: The family of the accused shooter have released a statement, saying, "We are shocked and deeply saddened by the terrible attack on the Chabad of Poway synagogue," KNSD reported.
They went on to say, "He has killed and injured the faithful who were gathered in a sacred place on a sacred day."
They placed the blame on people influenced their son, saying, "Our son's actions were informed by people we do not know, and ideas we do not hold."
Family of alleged synagogue shooter releases statement. #nbc7 pic.twitter.com/jpc8jaTnM1
— Artie Ojeda (@ArtieNBCSD) April 29, 2019
The FBI announced that it had received warnings prior to the attack. The warnings came in via the FBI's website and phone number five minutes before the shooting, The Associated Press reported. The tip did not have specifics of the location of the attack, and FBI employees tried to find out who wrote the anonymous social media post it was provided, but the shooting happened before the identity could be confirmed, according to AP.
Update 11:05 p.m. EDT April 28: Hundreds of people gathered for two vigils Sunday evening to honor the shooting victims of Chabad of Poway synagogue.
An interdenominational group congregated at the Rancho Bernardo Community Church Sunday evening to sing and pray. Other community members attended a vigil at Valle Verde Park.
w/ my wife attending community vigil w/ @Chabadpoway synagogue at Valle Verde Park. Praying for & standing in solidarity in grief & peace pic.twitter.com/TgmOiMJsgi
— Neal Presa (@NealPresa) April 29, 2019
People in Pittsburgh also gathered for a vigil Sunday evening to honor the victims of the Poway synagogue shooting, six months after a gunman shot up the city’s Tree of Life synagogue, killing 11 worshippers.
Vigil held outside Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life for Poway shooting victims: California synagogue attack occurs six months after deadliest attack on Jews in US history; 'We know first-hand the fear, anguish and healing process such an atrocity… https://t.co/UzxzMFGCMy TimesofIsrael pic.twitter.com/HDqIDyWQ6V
— Jewish Community (@JComm_BlogFeeds) April 29, 2019
Update 6:55 pm EDT April 28: The suspect in the deadly shooting at a synagogue in Poway, California, identified as John Earnest, has been charged with one count of first degree murder and three counts of attempted murder, according to the San Diego Sheriff's Department.
Update #11 This is the second news release about a deadly #synagogueshooting during Passover services at Chabad of Poway.
— San Diego Sheriff (@SDSheriff) April 28, 2019
All road closures have been lifted.
There are no media briefings planned for today. pic.twitter.com/pO47ZAvYHz
Investigators believe Earnest acted alone in his alleged attack on Chabad of Poway.
“There is no indication at this point in the investigation that Earnest was part of an organized group,” Sheriff William Gore said in a press release.
“We believe he acted alone and without outside support in carrying out the attack,” Gore said.
Update 3:03 p.m. EDT April 28: CNN reported that the three victims injured in the shooting have all been released from Palomar Health in San Diego County, according to a hospital spokesperson
Update 6:03 a.m. EDT April 28: A Jewish leader in San Diego County has identified the woman killed Saturday in a synagogue shooting.
According to The Associated Press, Lori Kaye, 60, of Poway, California, was killed when a gunman opened fire at Chabad of Poway, said Chabad of San Diego County's executive director, Rabbi Yonah Fradkin.
Three others were hurt, including Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, 34-year-old Almog Peretz and 8-year-old Noya Dahan, Fradkin said.
CNN reported that Kaye was shot after she jumped between the shooter and Goldstein, whose index fingers were injured in the attack.
"In the face of senseless hate, we commit to live proudly as Jews in this glorious country," Fradkin said, according to the AP. "We strongly believe that love is exponentially more powerful than hate. We are deeply shaken by the loss of a true woman of valor, Lori Kaye, who lost her life solely for living as a Jew."
Peretz suffered a gunshot wound to the leg as he led a group of children to safety, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. Meanwhile, Dahan was hurt when shrapnel struck her face and leg, witnesses told the newspaper.
According to friends, the woman on the left is 60yo Lori Kaye. She died in today’s synagogue shooting. The girl on the right is 8yo Noya Dahan. She was hit by shrapnel. These are innocent lives impacted by hate. When will enough be enough? @CBS8 @News8 @thecwsandiego pic.twitter.com/V6MgIgs3rx
— Shannon Handy (@ShannonNews8) April 28, 2019
Police identified the suspected shooter as John T. Earnest, 19, of Rancho Penasquitos. The Union-Tribune reported that he appears to have written an anti-Semitic manifesto and claimed to have tried to burn down an Escondido mosque in March.
Earnest was arrested Saturday and charged with one count of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted first-degree murder, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.
Update #10 News release regarding deadly synagogue shooting during Passover services at Chabad of Poway. @SDSheriff thanks the public for their cooperation.
— San Diego Sheriff (@SDSheriff) April 28, 2019
There are no further media briefings planned for this evening. pic.twitter.com/GJxV8emkrJ
Update 8:30 p.m. EDT April 27: Authorities told reporters Saturday that the suspect in the shooting is John Earnest. He is also being investigated in a fire at a mosque in a nearby city last month.
San Diego County Sheriff William Gore said that the 19-year-old had no prior arrests. He’s accused of killing a woman and wounding three others at Chabad of Poway on the last day of Passover.
Update 7:15 p.m. EDT April 27: President Donald Trump has offered "deepest sympathies to the families of those affected" by a shooting at a synagogue outside San Diego.
At the White House, Trump said Saturday that the shooting “looked like a hate crime” and called it “hard to believe.” He spoke from the South Lawn before flying to a rally in Wisconsin.
Thoughts and prayers to all of those affected by the shooting at the Synagogue in Poway, California. God bless you all. Suspect apprehended. Law enforcement did outstanding job. Thank you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 27, 2019
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and California Gov. Gavin Newsom offered their condolences to the Jewish community after a man opened fire Saturday at a synagogue outside San Diego.
Newsom said “no one should have to fear going to their place of worship.”
Pelosi said on Twitter that she stands with the Jewish community against “this act of hate.”
We are closely following the situation surrounding today’s shooting at Chabad synagogue in Poway, CA. We remain deeply grateful to first responders & community members working to protect their neighbors. We share in the grief of all who have been affected & their families.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) April 27, 2019
San Diego County Sheriff William Gore said at a news conference that he had no details on motive.
Update 5:30 p.m. EDT April 27: Law enforcement officials said in a press conference that one woman has died from wounds in the shooting.
A 19-year-old San Diego man is in custody.
Update 4:30 p.m. EDT April 27: According to The Associated Press, the hospital said it is treating four people injured in a synagogue shooting near San Diego but their conditions are unclear.
Update 3:55 p.m. EDT April 27: 10News San Diego reported that at least four victims have been transported to a hospital.
Original story: San Diego Sheriff Bill Gore said officers were responding to a shooting at the Chabad of Poway Synagogue in Poway. The shooting occurred just before 11:30 a.m. and caused "multiple injuries," he said.
Officers have detained a man for questioning in connection with the shooting, Gore said.
The shooting came on the last day of Passover and exactly six months since a shooting at the Pittsburgh the Tree of Life Synagogue, which killed 11 people.
Update #1: A man has been detained for questioning in connection with a shooting incident at the Chabad of Poway synagogue. @SDSOPoway Deputies were called to Chabad Way just before 11:30 a.m. There are injuries. This is a developing situation.
— Poway Station (@SDSOPoway) April 27, 2019
Poway is a little over 20 miles north of San Diego.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Cox Media Group