Chicago Man Faces Terrorism and Hate Crime Charges in Shooting of Jewish Worshipper

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A Chicago man has been charged with terrorism and hate crimes following a violent attack on a Jewish man who was walking to his synagogue. Police have reported that the suspect, 22-year-old Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi, is accused of not only shooting at the Jewish man but also firing multiple times at police officers and paramedics who responded to the scene.

 

Terrifying moment captured on camera:

Terrifying moment captured on camera:

A 39-year-old Jewish man was critically injured after being shot in broad daylight on his way to synagogue in a suburban Chicago neighborhood.

A 23-year-old shooter was heard shouting “Allahu Akbar” on a ring camera during a 2.5-minute… pic.twitter.com/r0oayheQmd

— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) October 27, 2024

 

Abdallahi, whose legal representation is yet unknown, allegedly opened fire on the 39-year-old victim on Saturday morning in Chicago’s North Side, authorities stated. Following the initial shooting, he reportedly continued to fire “at responding officers and paramedics multiple times from various locations,” Chicago Police Department said in a news release on Monday. In the ensuing exchange, police fired back and injured the suspect, who is currently hospitalized. Fortunately, no police officers or first responders were harmed during the incident.

 

Due to his injuries, investigators have not yet been able to question Abdallahi directly. Instead, they analyzed digital evidence to establish their case. According to Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling, the investigation uncovered information from the suspect’s phone that indicated a targeted attack based on the victim’s Jewish faith. While Superintendent Snelling did not go into specific details regarding the evidence, he confirmed that Abdallahi appears to have acted alone. Snelling also reassured the public, saying, "Officials don’t want residents to live in fear that there’s a network of people out there engaged in this activity.”

 

In addition to terrorism and hate crime charges, Abdallahi faces six counts of attempted first-degree murder, seven counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm, and one count of aggravated battery with a firearm. His next court appearance is scheduled for November 7.

 

Superintendent Snelling emphasized the importance of a thorough investigation to ensure that the charges were properly founded, denying that the charges were influenced by public or media pressure. "There must be sufficient evidence to support hate crimes and terrorism charges, and it was important we took our time to thoroughly investigate and confirm that this was indeed a crime of that nature,” Snelling said. He added, “We will never go out in public, make statements, allegations, accusations or attempt to bring charges without any proof of what we’re attempting to charge someone for.”

 

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson condemned the attack, describing it as an assault on the city’s values and calling hate toward the Jewish community “hideous” and “wicked.” Johnson spoke out strongly against antisemitism, stating, “This is not just an attack against our beloved community of Jewish people; this was an attack against us as a city.” He affirmed that no one in Chicago should live in fear because of their beliefs, religion, or identity. Johnson assured the Jewish community that “we’re using every aspect of government to ensure that they are safe.”

 

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx remarked on the rarity of terrorism charges and highlighted the gravity of Abdallahi’s actions. “This charge sends a clear message: Any acts that seek to destabilize our communities through fear and hatred will face the fullest measure of accountability under the law,” Foxx stated. She added that the crime was not simply meant to intimidate but aimed to “inflict terror.”

 

The Midwest branch of The Anti-Defamation League issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, acknowledging that the charges appropriately reflect the severity of the crime. “We must all turn our attention to supporting the victim and the West Rogers Park Jewish community as they recover from this heinous act,” the statement read.

 

Abdallahi, a Mauritanian national, was first encountered by US Border Patrol in San Ysidro, California, on March 31, 2023, according to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Following his recent arrest, ICE “lodged an immigration detainer with Cook County Jail” on Tuesday, spokesperson Erin Bultje confirmed in a statement. ICE has not provided further information about his immigration status.

 

Meanwhile, the victim of the shooting was discharged from the hospital on Saturday afternoon. Chicago's 50th Ward Alderman Debra Silverstein shared relief at his condition, expressing gratitude that he did not suffer life-threatening injuries. Superintendent Snelling also reflected on the long-term impact this event might have on the survivor, stating, “Thankfully, this victim did not suffer life-threatening injuries. We know that this is something that he’s going to have to deal with the rest of his days.”

 

 

Based on a report by CNN 2024-11-02