LOS ANGELES — The gunman entered the synagogue on Saturday yelling anti-Semitic slurs, and opened fire with an A.R. 15-style gun. He paused when the rabbi of the congregation tried to talk with him. But he fired again, shooting the rabbi in the hand. His attack left a 60-year-old woman dead, the rabbi wounded and a 34-year-old man and a girl with shrapnel wounds. It was the Sabbath and the last day of Passover, a holiday that celebrates Jewish freedom. The shooting, at Chabad of Poway, about 25 miles north of San Diego, is the most recent in a series of deadly attacks at houses of worship, including the mass shooting at mosques in New Zealand last month and the church bombings in Sri Lanka this past week. It came exactly six months after one of the worst acts of violence against the American Jewish community in decades left 11 dead in a Pittsburgh synagogue. [Update: Rabbi injured in synagogue shooting says “terror will not win.”] Local officials called the shooting in Poway, Calif., a hate crime. The gunman, whom officials identified as John Earnest, a 19-year-old resident of San Diego, screamed that Jews were ruining the world as he stormed the synagogue, according to a government official with knowledge of the investigation who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak publicly.<doc-sep>The San Diego County Sheriff's Department released the following: Sheriff Bill Gore would like to update the public with the following information. Detectives from the San Diego County Sheriff's Department along with members of several local, state and federal agencies have been working throughout the night, interviewing approximately 100 people who were victims and witnesses to the shooting that occurred at the Chabad of Poway. Detectives also served several search warrants and processed the crime scene at the synagogue, as well as the suspect's residence in San Diego and his vehicle. The investigation is continuing as detectives process evidence and interview additional witnesses. The suspect, 19-year-old John T. Earnest, was booked into custody on one count of murder in the first degree and three counts of attempted murder in the first degree. There is no indication at this point in the investigation that Earnest was part of an organized group. We believe he acted alone and without outside support in carrying out the attack. We are continuing to explore every investigative avenue to bring out all the facts in the case. The Sheriff's Department would like to acknowledge another act of courage that occurred at the synagogue yesterday. Oscar Stewart, who is fifty-one-years-old and resides in Rancho Bernardo, rushed at the shooting suspect, chasing after the suspect as he fled the synagogue to a vehicle parked nearby. Mr. Stewart caught up to the vehicle as the suspect was about to drive away. While Mr. Stewart was near the vehicle, an off-duty Border Patrol Agent caught up to the vehicle and yelled for Mr. Stewart to get out of the way. The Border Patrol Agent then fired a weapon in the suspect's direction striking the vehicle as it drove away. Mr. Stewart risked his life to stop the shooter and saved lives in the process. The Sheriff’s Department continues to express its sincerest condolences to those affected by yesterday’s crime. Our hearts go out to those going through this difficult time.<doc-sep>A mural of George Floyd is shown in the intersection of 38th St & Chicago Ave on March 31, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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(Photo by CARLOS OSORIO / POOL / AFP) (Photo by CARLOS OSORIO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) 'Never seen levels like this': Union president on airline passenger misconduct Memorial Day weekend will bring rain and cool air for much of the East (CNN) — A 19-year-old man was in custody after a shooting at a California synagogue on the last day of Passover left at least one person dead and several others wounded, the city’s mayor said Saturday. The shooting occurred at Congregation Chabad in Poway, north of San Diego, Poway Mayor Steve Vaus said. He described it as a possible hate crime. President Donald Trump, speaking outside the White House Saturday, told reporters, “At this moment it looks like a hate crime, but my deepest sympathies to all of those affected and we’ll get to the bottom of it.” The Palomar Medical Center Poway received four patients from the shooting, according to a trauma surgeon. One patient, a 60-year-old woman, died at the hospital, Dr. Michael Katz said. An employee of the synagogue identified the dead woman as Lori Kaye. “The other three victims are doing well with their injuries,” he told reporters. A 57-year-old rabbi who was shot suffered what looked like defensive wounds to both of his index fingers. He will likely lose his right index finger, the doctor said. A 34-year-old man and a girl had shrapnel injuries. The girl, whose age was not given, was wounded in one leg and in the face. She was transferred to a children’s hospital and will be monitored overnight. Vaus said he considered it a hate crime “because of statements that were made when the shooter entered.” San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore later identified the suspect as John Earnest, of San Diego. Authorities are investigating to see whether Earnest is connected to arson at a mosque in nearby Escondido from last month, he said. The mayor said the congregation was targeted by “someone with hate in their heart … towards our Jewish community and that just will not stand.” The congregation “took security very seriously,” he said. Gore told reporters that the gunman was armed with an “AR-type assault weapon.” Authorities said an off-duty Border Patrol agent fired at the shooter as he was fleeing the scene, but didn’t hit the suspect. Gore said it appears the agent, who the sheriff thinks is a security guard, hit the suspect’s car. It is unclear why the suspect fled but it is possible his gun might have malfunctioned, the sheriff added. The suspect fled the scene and called 911 to say he was involved and give his location, San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit said. A San Diego K-9 officer arrived and the shooter surrendered without incident, he said. Gore said the suspect was being interviewed by detectives and the FBI. The sheriff refused comment on a motive. “I want you to know this is not Poway,” Vaus told reporters. The sheriff’s department announced later that authorities believe the shooter acted alone. Rabbi, while wounded, calls for unity Congregation member Minoo Anvari, who said her husband witnessed the shooting, said the rabbi called for unity and prayed for peace even after getting shot. “Rabbi said, ‘We are united,’” said Anvari, a refugee from Iran. “This is something bad (that) is happening all over. And we have to believe that this bad thing is real and we don’t have to ignore it. We have to open our eyes. He prayed for peace. I respect him – even in spite of being injured he refused to go to hospital and he spoke. And he finished his speech and he then left the synagogue.” Anvari said her husband told her the shooter was cursing when he opened fire. A witness told CNN affiliate KGTV there were six or seven shots followed by screams and then another volley of shots. The witness said the wounded rabbi tried to calm the gunman and members of the congregation. Chabad of Poway Congregation Chabad is in Poway, north of San Diego. The San Diego Police Department is assisting sheriff’s deputies with the incident, according to a tweet from Nisleit. “No known threats however in an abundance of caution, we will be providing extra patrol at places of worship,” Nisleit said. The sheriff said the shooting happened at 11:23 a.m. (2:23 p.m. ET). The synagogue’s Facebook page said a Passover celebration was scheduled for 11 a.m. Did the gunman preface the shooting online? Authorities are aware of an open letter posted online purportedly by Earnest, Gore said in a news conference. Detectives are “collecting digital evidence” and are in the process of reviewing the online content “to determine its validity and authenticity,” the sheriff said. CNN has read through an open letter posted to the anonymous message board 8chan before the shooting. In the posting, someone identifying as Earnest references killing Jewish people without making actual reference to Poway, San Diego or the synagogue involved in the shooting. The letter writer talks about planning the attack and references other attacks on houses of worship, including the attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh and the Christchurch mosque shootings in New Zealand. The writer also talks about his disdain for Jews and claims responsibility for a mosque fire in Escondido a week and a half after the attacks in Christchurch.<doc-sep>
This image was removed due to legal reasons. Update, Sunday, 1:19 p.m. ET: The harrowing stories of Saturday’s mass shooting at the Chabad of Poway by a white, neo-Nazi terrorist are now being told as the nation mourns yet another attack fueled by hate. Sixty-year-old Lori Kaye of Poway was killed after she threw herself in front of Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein to shield him from the attack. Goldstein had his fingers shot off, but his life was saved, thanks to Kaye, who Goldstein said had helped to build the Chabad of Poway decades ago. Congregation member Roneet Lev told the Los Angeles Times that Kaye had gone to the synagogue to say a prayer for her mother, who had recently passed away. “The irony is, people will be saying it for her now,” Lev told the Times. Also injured was an 8-year-old girl, Noya Dahan, who was struck by shrapnel in the face and legs. Almog Peretz, 34, also was injured by shrapnel while protecting his niece. According to CNN, Peretz was visiting from Israel for Passover. Based on witness accounts, it appears that the shooting stopped when the gunman’s AR-15 jammed. The 19-year-old attacker, a white supremacist neo-Nazi Christian, fled the scene and was shot at by an off-duty Border Patrol officer serving as a security guard. One of those shots struck the attacker’s vehicle, but did not injure him. The shooter then called 911 to report that he was involved in the shooting. He was pulled over and taken into custody. “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,” Rabbi Yonah Fradkin, executive director of Chabad of San Diego County, said in a statement reported by the Associated Press. Update, Saturday, 7:01 p.m. ET: NBC News has identified the suspect as 19-year-old John T. Earnest of San Diego. Earnest, who allegedly entered the Chabad synagogue of Poway on Saturday morning and began firing, published a “manifesto” online shortly after 10 a.m. local time, NBC 7 San Diego reported. Earnest’s missive points to the fact that Saturday’s shooting on the last day of Passover was inspired by the Christchurch mosque shootings in New Zealand in March, which left 50 people dead, and the mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh exactly six months ago, which killed 11 people. NBC 7 characterized the manifesto as being “[f]illed with racist rants and quotes from the Bible.” Earnest, a white nursing student, also claimed credit for an arson attack at a mosque in Escondido, CA, last month. “During that incident, Earnest spray-painted messages referencing the New Zealand mosque shooting,” NBC 7 reported. Of note, following the Christchurch attack, New Zealand’s chief government censor banned a “manifesto” written and disseminated online by the perpetrator, a white supremacist. Update, Saturday, 5:34 p.m. ET: Authorities said during a news conference Saturday afternoon that a 19-year-old male suspect has been arrested after calling the police to report the shooting. The suspect was pulled over in his vehicle and arrested without incident. He had an AR-style rifle on the front seat of his car. The suspect is a resident of San Diego, and reportedly had circulated a type of “manifesto” online. Police said they have obtained copies of the suspect’s social media accounts and the letter, and are reviewing them as part of the investigation. This image was removed due to legal reasons. Authorities released no further information about the suspect. Among the victims, one woman was killed, while a girl and two men remain in the hospital. According to San Diego County Sheriff William Gore, an off-duty Border Patrol officer was inside the synagogue at the time of the attack and fired at the suspect as he fled, the Associated Press reported. Federal agents have joined the investigation, and about 100 people are waiting to be interviewed by police. President Donald Trump responded to the attack by saying, “Hard to believe. Hard to believe.” “At this moment it looks like a hate crime. My deepest sympathies to all of those affected,” Trump said before departing for a rally in Wisconsin. A follow-up news conference will be held in two hours.