The gunman who opened hearth on a Jewish man strolling to synagogue in Chicago is an unlawful migrant from West Africa who was launched into the US final yr — and he focused the sufferer due to his religion, legislation enforcement sources inform The Submit.
Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi, 22 — who hails from Mauritania — crossed into San Diego in March 2023 and was screened by border brokers, who shortly launched him into the US, officers mentioned.
Federal investigators imagine Abdallahi was particularly focusing on Jews in an antisemitic assault when he ambushed a 39-year-old Orthodox Jewish man within the metropolis’s West Ridge neighborhood — which is residence to a number of synagogues, sources mentioned.
The gunman was then reportedly caught on video shouting “Allahu Akbar” earlier than opening hearth on police — who critically wounded him in a shootout.
The Prepare dinner County prosecutor has sparked outrage from the Windy Metropolis’s Jewish neighborhood after Abdallahi was not charged with a hate crime.
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When Abdallahi was caught on the border final yr, authorities didn’t discover any felony or terrorist histories linked him, sources mentioned.
Border Patrol famous that Abdallahi “doesn’t look like a risk to nationwide safety, or public security…” earlier than sending him on his manner with a future court docket date, in keeping with sources.
Abdallahi mentioned he was going to reside with a good friend in Indiana.
Though Abdallahi instructed Border Patrol brokers in California he didn’t worry being returned to Mauritania, he later filed for asylum. That case is pending.
The case has induced tensions between Chicago and Prepare dinner County officers and the Jewish neighborhood. Cops mentioned the gunman opened hearth on an Orthodox Jewish man carrying a kippah with out saying a phrase.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has confronted backlash for expressing his “heartfelt ideas and prayers” with the sufferer, however failing to say that the sufferer is Jewish.
“On behalf of the Metropolis of Chicago, our heartfelt ideas and prayers are with the sufferer and his family members from this weekend’s taking pictures incident that happened in Rogers Park,” Johnson wrote on X Wednesday. “This tragic occasion ought to have by no means occurred, and we acknowledge the dedication of our first responders who put their lives on the road throughout this taking pictures.
“The Mayor’s Workplace is in shut communication with the Chicago Police Division because the investigation continues. All Chicagoans should really feel secure and guarded throughout the town. There’s extra work to be executed, and we’re dedicated to diligently enhancing neighborhood security in each neighborhood,” he added.
Chicago’s Jewish Neighborhood Relations Council was fast to name out the mayor’s omission.
“You did not establish that the sufferer was a Jewish man, in a densely populated Jewish neighborhood, going to synagogue for Shabbat morning prayers,” the group wrote on X. “What is going to it take so that you can acknowledge the Jewish neighborhood?”
The alleged gunman is charged with six counts of tried homicide, seven counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm, and aggravated battery.
Cops mentioned they but to find out a motive of the assault because the investigation stays ongoing. Detectives weren’t instantly in a position to interview Abdallahi due to his accidents, Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling mentioned, in keeping with CBS Information.
Snelling mentioned cops aren’t ruling out extra prices.
Alderperson Debra Silverstein expressed outrage concerning the lack of hate crime prices filed in opposition to Abdallahi.
“I’m very disillusioned by this flip of occasions and strongly encourage the Prepare dinner County State’s Lawyer Workplace to prosecute the offender to the complete extent of the legislation,” Silverstein instructed the Solar-Occasions.
“The Jewish neighborhood is at all times on excessive alert, and that is simply including to our anxiousness,” she added.