Parents of a man accused in an attack at the synagogue in California call his actions "evil": NPR

The parents of the man who opened fire on a synagogue in California, killing one person and wounding three others, broke their silence.

In one declaration About the shooting, the Earnest family reports being shocked and saddened by the attack on the Chabad of Poway Synagogue in a San Diego suburb. The attack occurred Saturday morning, the last day of the Passover celebration.

"Our sadness is derisory compared to the grief and anguish that our son has caused to so many innocents," they wrote. "To our shame, it is now part of the history of evil that has been perpetrated on the Jewish people for centuries."

The Earnests said their son had been raised in a family that rejected hatred and taught love. "The way our son was attracted to such darkness is a terrifying mystery for us," they added.

The statement was made public Monday by the family lawyer of the law firm Klinedinst. Earnest's relatives said they cooperate with the investigators. They also asked for privacy.

Earll Pott, a family attorney, said that they would not pay for the defense of their son, according to the Associated Press.

Their words came as grieving people gathered Monday to pay tribute to Lori Kaye, 60, who was killed in the attack. Survivors, grieving relatives, lawmakers, a new State Department antisemitic emissary and a representative of the Israeli government attended the commemorative ceremony, reported the AP.

Hannah Kaye shared memories of her mother and described how Lori would forgive the gunman. "I know my mother has already forgiven this man who shot him," the local press reported.

Lori Kaye had gone to the synagogue to pray for her own dead mother, told reporters her founding rabbi, Yisroel Goldstein, at a press conference. Witnesses to the attack stated that Lori Kaye was protecting Goldstein, jumping in front of him when the bullets arrived. Rabbi's injuries include the loss of a finger.

US State Department envoy Elan Carr told the congregation that the Trump administration was going to resist anti-Semitism. "I am here to say that we are at war with these people," he said, adding that the fight was taking place in "every city in the United States."

The shootings took place six months after 11 people were shot dead in the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh.

Police said John T. Earnest, 19, had used an AR-type assault weapon to attack the California synagogue and that he had no criminal record. He went to the police after the shooting and was accused with a murder leader and three counts of attempted murder. He is scheduled to appear in San Diego on Tuesday.