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The 19-year-old man accused of having opened fire inside a synagogue in southern California this weekend was sentenced to jail time without bail on Tuesday . A judge called it "obvious and extraordinary risk to public safety".
John T. Earnest pleaded not guilty under a murder charge with a special circumstance of a hate-motivated crime and under three counts of attempted murder in Saturday's shooting at the Chabad of Poway Synagogue north of San Diego, who killed the faithful congregant aged 60 and wounded three other people, including the rabbi of the synagogue. Earnest was also charged with a criminal arson incident in connection with the fire that broke out last month in an Escondido mosque nearby.
Earnest showed no emotion during the brief hearing in front of the Hall of Justice in downtown San Diego. He spoke once, answering "yes" to a question posed by Judge Joseph P. Brannigan, and sometimes took a look at Public Defender John O. Connell for advice.
John T. Earnest appearing for his indictment on Tuesday. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / Union San Diego-Tribune via AP, Pool)
Attorney Leonard Trinh stated that Earnest had burst into the synagogue with a semi-automatic rifle shortly after the start of services marking the last day of Passover, while he was wearing a helmet and tactical vest containing five magazines of ten cartridges. According to the prosecutor's account, Earnest shot Kaye twice in the hall of the synagogue and then Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, who reportedly lost his finger in the shooting.
Earnest then turned to a room filled with children and other adults, investigators said. Congregation Almog Peretz tried to protect his niece, 8-year-old Noya Dahan, as well as other children, and was wounded by a shrapnel, just like Noya.
Trinh said Earnest had fired eight to ten shots. Then the rifle was stuck or he was not able to release the charger to reload, investigators said. The suspect then fled by avoiding an army veteran and a border patrol officer on furlough who was chasing him. Earnest called 911 to report the shot and made it shortly thereafter.
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Trinh noted that the entire shootings had been recorded by synagogue surveillance cameras and had been briefly cited in an online manifesto written by Earnest. San Diego District Attorney, Summer Stephan, told reporters after the hearing that Earnest had bought the rifle legally, but had refused to provide further details, citing the ongoing investigation.
The prosecutor said that she would decide whether she would apply for the death penalty against Earnest at a later date. The suspect could also face life without parole if he is found guilty.
The next Earnest appearance was scheduled for May 30th.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
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