Poway synagogue shooting: 1 dead, 3 injured in suspected ‘hate crime’

One person is dead, three are injured, and a 19-year-old male suspect is in custody after a shooting at a synagogue in Poway, California, on Saturday that authorities said was a “hate crime.”

Police responded to the Chabad of Poway synagogue on Saturday for reports of a man with a gun. Mayor Steve Vaus of Poway told CNN the shooting was a hate crime due to statements the shooter made at the scene.

Authorities told reporters at a press conference that an adult woman was killed, as was the synagogue’s rabbi. They added that the shooter used an AR-style rifle in the attack.

The suspect has been identified as John T. Earnest, San Diego County Sheriff William Gore told reporters.

Police said a motive for the shooting is still unclear, but they are investigating an “open letter” and social-media posts that the shooting suspect may have left behind. An anti-Semitic manifesto published under the name “John T. Earnest” circulated online, though authorities have not explicitly linked the document to the suspect.

“We have copies of his social media posts and his open letter and will be reviewing those to determine the legitimacy of it and exactly how it plays into the investigation,” Gore told reporters.

Leaders and lawmakers began weighing in Saturday afternoon with condolences. President Donald Trump told reporters outside the White House that he believed the shooting was a hate crime.

“It looks like a hate crime. Hard to believe,” he said. “We’re doing some very heavy research, we’ll see what happens, what comes up. At this point it looks like a hate crime, but my deepest sympathies to all of those affected. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom tweeted that hatred “must be called out” in the wake of similar shootings across the world.

“Charleston, Pittsburgh, Quebec, New Zealand — now our own Poway, California. No one should ever fear going to their place of worship,” he wrote. “Hate continues to fuel horrific and cowardice acts of violence across our state, country and world. It must be called out. CA stands with Poway.”

Saturday marks the final day of the two-week Jewish holiday Passover and the weekly holy Sabbath day.

The incident hearkens back to a shooting that killed 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue, exactly 6 months ago also during Saturday morning services. The gunman opened fire on the Tree of Life Synagogue while shouting anti-Semitic slurs before he was killed in a confrontation with police.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.