The murderous hatred of the synagogue suspect seemed to come out of nowhere, even on his own

Former classmates are also puzzled by the turn of events. The Earnest in court on Tuesday is unrecognizable from the high school student they knew two years ago.

At the time, he was known to be such an intelligent guy that he did not bother to take notes in chemistry and advanced physics, but that he participated in all exams ; so calm that some teachers were surprised when he spoke.

"I went through the same hallways as this guy, read the same textbooks, walked the same areas and had essentially the same education," said a student on the Reddit online forum, "but did he become a murderer?"

CNN interviewed the student and confirmed that she was the author of the message.

According to law enforcement officials, Earnest used an "RA-type assault weapon" to shoot the victims. Prosecutors told a judge Tuesday that Earnest had donned a tactical vest and helmet during the attack and that he had in his possession additional chargers. The shooting, they said, was captured on video and abruptly ended when his gun stuck or he was unable to reload. He absconded and called 911, making statements about the incident described by San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan as "compatible with the charges".

Stephan did not specify how and when Earnest acquired the weapon, but that the investigation "has for the moment indicated that he had obtained the weapon in all legality". A new law that came into effect in California earlier this year requires that gun buyers be at least 21 years old in most circumstances. Stephan pointed out that one exception was if the weapon had been purchased by a person with a hunting license. She did not want to confirm if that was how Earnest had acquired the rifle.

Stephan said prosecutors had not yet decided he should apply for the death penalty against Earnest, who was pursuing nursing studies at California State University in San Diego. Marcos before the shooting.

In the online manifesto, Earnest reportedly wrote that he was inspired by an attacker who killed dozens of people in a mosque and Islamic center in New Zealand on March 15. The teenager stated that he had conceived and executed his own aggression within a month or so. The assault on the synagogue took place on April 27th.

The manifesto reflects a long and extreme hatred against the Jews. His speech, filled with explosives, describes the Jews as degenerative, genocidal, ugly, cursed and corrupt. He attributes to the Jews a multitude of problems that he sees as problems of society, from communism to pornography. He added sectarian and racist comments on many other ethnicities, religions and races.

He boasts of what he calls his European ancestors – his "magnificent lineage". He claims that his violence is tolerated by his Christianity. It cuts against the application of the law. He quotes Adolf Hitler among his inspirations.

The family of the teenager stated that they were disgusted by his deeds and wrote in his statement: "He killed and wounded worshipers gathered in a sacred place on a holy day." To our great shame, he is now part of the history of evil that has been perpetrated on the Jewish people for centuries. "

Earnest's words and supposed actions contrast strikingly with the sober-looking student featured on a Facebook page of Mount. Brotherhood of academic and civic excellence of Carmel High School.

He is dressed in a blue suit and a red tie, arms crossed, radiant smile. Beside him is a biography describing his cumulative average of 4.31, his membership in the university swimming team, his prowess at the piano and his performances in first, second and third places in the talent show of the school .

Francis "Sonny" Pizzo, graduate of Mont. Carmel High School with Earnest in 2017, said that he did not know Earnest well, but recalled him as "a calm person, not very frank."

Pizzo said that he was known for his musical talent, but that he did not seem particularly sociable.

"He did not draw attention to himself," Pizzo said.

Another student who published an article on the Reddit attack said that she felt physically sick for hours after learning that she was Earnest, whom she had said her friends were saying. called "Johnny", was responsible for it.

She remembered how Earnest sat in class, listening to music, "both hands stuffed in her jeans pockets … and still managed to pass all the exams and quizzes."

CNN contacted the author of the post and confirmed his student identity at Mt. Carmel High School. She said that school officials had discouraged students from talking to the media and asked that she not be identified by her name. She said she was friends with a member of the Earnest family and highly appreciated it.

In an interview, the student stated that she had been struck by the contrast between the alleged online braggart of Earnest and her behavior in person.

"He seemed very frank in this message," she said. "But in real life, he does not speak."

The only exception, she said, was that he had the reputation of sometimes spreading conservative opinions in a government class.

"He did not really turn out to be a radical individual at the time," she said. "He was off the radar."

The student, who also expressed conservative opinions on topics such as immigration, taxes and abortion, said that these positions were not popular among most others. students.

"The Conservatives have a hard time here," she said. "They do not respect our opinion."

In her Reddit post, she stated that she could not begin to understand what had prompted her to carry out the attack, which she described as "worse crime than". a mortal can commit. "

Another student who posted an online account of the attack described it as "horrible and reprehensible" and said "deeply upset" for the victims.

But she also wrote that she felt anguish for the shooter's family, especially for her father, who was also his physics teacher at Mount. Carmel.

She said that she and other students were alongside Earnest's elder, also named John, on the morning of the shootout for the advanced exam preparation session that He directed.

"I remember very well seeing the smile on his face yesterday morning with a batch of cookies that he had cooked for us," she wrote. "For every student who came to the exam, he had prepared by hand [a] Special binder with revision for our next exam. This is one of the countless ways in which Mr. Earnest has exceeded the expectations of his students. "

CNN contacted the author of the post and confirmed that she was a student at Mount. Carmel High School. She also asked not to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the subject.

She wrote in her message that she is friends with other members of the Earnest family and knows that they have no influence on what John Earnest is accused of doing.

"There may be several reasons why he's radicalized, but one thing is certain, his family is not the reason," she wrote. "It is unbearable to see such a tragedy affect their family that way."

At a news conference on Tuesday, Attorney General Stephan asked if Earnest's family knew about his extreme views.

She declined to say what the family might have known, but she added, "Often, families do not see things happen."