Gunman ‘wearing bulletproof vest and helmet’ opens fire in Poway synagogue, killing one and injuring multiple worshipers including Rabbi and children, ‘before being stopped by armed guard’ midway through Passover celebration on last day of holiday
- The incident took place at the Chabad of Poway house of worship sometime after 11:30 local time
- Four victims have been take to the Palomar Medical Center to be treated for their injuries. One of them reportedly the synagogue’s Rabbi, Yisorel Goldstein
- Steve Vaus, the mayor of Poway, said there has been ‘one fatality’ so far
- The other three are said to include an unidentified adult and two minors
- Eyewitnesses say the gunman was wearing a helmet and tactical vest
- The shooting comes exactly six months after a gunman killed 11 at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in US history
Police in California have detained a man in relation to a shooting at a San Diego synagogue on Saturday afternoon that has left one dead and several others injured.
The incident took place at the Chabad of Poway house of worship sometime after 11:30 local time, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office reported.
So far four victims have been transported to the Palomar Medical Center to be treated for their injuries. Steve Vaus, the mayor of Poway, said there has been ‘one fatality.’
Witnesses say the gunman was wearing a tactical vest and a helmet according to CBS 8. The reports have not yet been confirmed by police.
One of the victims is said to be the synagogue’s Rabbi, Yisorel Goldstein, who founded the Chabad center in 1986. He was reportedly shot and lost two fingers.
The other three are said to include an unidentified adult and two minors, one aged 11.
Two young girls are also reportedly missing in the wake of the shooting.
The incident took place at the Chabad of Poway house of worship in San Diego, sometime after 11:30 local time
Local Authorities are reporting that Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein is one of multiple shooting victims at Chabad of Poway in Poway, California on April 27, 2019
Multiple people have been sighted on the ground inside the house of worship, located at 16934 Chabad Way.
Major Vaus told CNN that members of the congregation attempted to overpower the gunman. According to reports an armed guard of the synagogue returned fire.
‘This shooter was engaged by people in the congregation and those brave people certainly prevented this from being a much worse tragedy,’ Vaus stated, adding that the shooter had ‘hate’ in his heart.
Vaus confirmed the shooting is a hate crime.
The suspect attempted to flee the scene on foot before being apprehended by authorities.
‘There are injuries. This is a developing situation,’ the department’s Poway Station said on Twitter.
So far four victims have been transported to the Palomar Medical Center to be treated for their injuries
The shooting comes on the last day of Passover. According to the synagogue’s website, the congregation were hosting a Passover Holiday Celebration that began at 11 am
The department had earlier said deputies were investigating reports of a man with a gun in the area of the Congregation Chabad synagogue.
Sheriff’s have confirmed that at least one person has been shot. Authorities are confident there was one shooter involved.
The shooting comes on the last day of Passover. According to the synagogue’s website, the congregation were hosting a Passover Holiday Celebration that began at 11 am and was set to end at 7pm with a final Passover meal.
‘It’s a very important celebration for us. There’s lots of people inside, they’re praying,’ Minoo Anvari a member of the congregation told NBC 7. ‘Everybody was crying and screaming.’
Anvari said her husband was inside during the shooting and said someone came in, started cursing and then opened fire.
Officers from the San Diego Police Department and the San Diego Sheriff’s office have been deployed to other churches
The San Diego Sheriff’s Office confirmed the shooting in a tweet early Saturday afternoon, local time
It’s believed the man fired between 12 and 14 shots inside the center.
The suspect behind the shooting is said to live with his parents. Police are currently preparing to raid his home, reports say.
Officers from the San Diego Police Department and the San Diego Sheriff’s office have been deployed to other churches, Fox 5 reported.
The shooting comes exactly six months after a gunman killed 11 people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States.
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