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A 19-year-old man armed with an assault rifle opened fire in a synagogue in southern California on Saturday while worshipers were preparing to celebrate the last day of Passover, killing a wife and wounding three others, authorities said.
An unidentified border patrol officer who was inside the Chabad of Poway synagogue fired at the gunman – later identified as John Earnest – missing, but hitting his fleeing vehicle, announced authorities.
When he was in the vehicle, Earnest called 911 to report the shot, said San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit. When an officer reached the man on a causeway, "the suspect stopped, jumped out of his car with his hands in the air and was immediately placed in custody ", he added.
POLITICIANS RESPOND TO CALIFORNIA THE SYNAGOGUE: "No one should ever be afraid to go to their place of worship"
One girl and two men – including the rabbi – were wounded and transported to the hospital. They would have been in a stable state.
The sheriff's vehicles from San Diego County were seen lined up outside the Chabad of Poway Synagogue on Saturday in Poway, California. Several people were injured in a shootings at the synagogue. (AP Photo / Denis Poroy)
At a press conference later on Saturday, San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore said the FBI and homicide agents had interviewed Earnest and that they were investigating his social networking accounts .
He added that they were investigating reports that the 19-year-old, who had no previous contact with law enforcement before Saturday, had written an anti-Jewish cope. online.
Gore said that they were trying to determine the validity of the manifesto. According to him, Earnest is also being investigated for a possible connection with a arson that caused property damage at the Dar-ul-Arqam Mosque in Escondido last month. No injuries were reported in this fire.
President Trump and other elected officials denounced what they called an anti-Semitic attack exactly six months after 11 people were killed in a Pittsburgh synagogue during the deadliest assault on the people. Jews of American history.
Trump presented his sympathies on Saturday, saying the shooting "looked like a hate-motivated crime," and described it as "hard to believe."
"Reflections and prayers to all those affected by the shooting at the Poway Synagogue, California. God bless you all, "Trump also tweeted. "The suspect was apprehended. The forces of order have done a remarkable job. Thank you!"
He then paid tribute to the patrol officer on leave who shot Earnest inside the synagogue.
"Sincere thanks to our excellent Border Patrol Officer who stopped the shooter at the Poway, California synagogue," wrote Trump. "He may have been on leave, but his law enforcement skills were not there!"
Sources told Fox News that the border patrol officer was a member of Chabad of Poway.
Minoo Anvari, a member of the synagogue, told the media that her husband was inside during the shooting. She said that he had called to tell him that the shooter was shouting and swearing.
She called the shooting "unbelievable" in a welded and welded community.
"We are strong, you can not break," said Anvari.
California Governor Gavin Newsom also expressed his support for the city of Poway, located about 20 km north of San Diego.
"No one should ever be afraid to go to their place of worship," he said. "Hate continues to fuel horrible and cowardly acts of violence in our state, our country and the world. You have to call him. CA stands alongside Poway.
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Poway Mayor Steve Vaus also said at the press conference that the violence did not adequately represent the city.
"We are still walking around each other and we are going through this tragedy with our arms around each other," Vaus said. "Poway will remain strong and we will always be a caring community of each other."
Lucia Suarez Sang of Fox News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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