Synagogue Shooting in California

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Sandy Huffaker

People brought flowers and gifts for the worshippers of the synagogues.

Natali Barias, Reporter

A simple Sabbath day service at a Chabad of Poway Synagogue in California turned gruesome when a gunman opened fire mid-service. Three were injured and one is dead.

The rabbi, Yisroel Goldstein, was leading service when he looked up to see a man in dark sunglasses pointing a rifle at him. The shooter was a 19-year-old man intent on wreaking havoc on the special holiday service. Goldstein was comforting a 60-year-old woman by the name of Lori Kaye when the shooter pointed his rifle and fired. Kaye was preparing to say a traditional prayer to honor her dead mother when she was shot to death by the shooter.

Goldstein turned to help Kaye and tried speaking to the gunman before he was shot in both hands. He then looked to the side to see scared children standing in the doorway. With his blood ridden hands, he grabbed the children and ran outside. Kaye’s husband ran inside to help his wife but fainted at the sight of her. According to Goldstein, Kaye’s daughter stood watching just a few feet away. Two more people were injured from flying shrapnel, one an eight-year-old girl. The gunman soon fled after his weapon jammed.

The shooter was identified as San Diego native, John Earnest. Before the shooting, a post was made on the online message board 8chan. The post under Ernest’s account highlighted a racial manifesto. Authorities are investigating whether or not it was Ernest who made this post. On Sunday morning, Earnest was charged with one count of murder and three counts of attempted murder.

A vigil was held on Sunday to mourn Lori Kaye. Goldstein stated that Lori was “the example of kindness to the fullest extent” and that,” she has an amazing spirit to her — an amazing attitude to life.”