1 dead, 3 injured in California synagogue shooting, suspect identified

One person was killed and three injured in a synagogue shooting in San Diego, California, on Saturday, the county authorities confirmed. The synagogue at the Chabad of Poway, about 20 miles (about 32 km) north of downtown San Diego, was hosting a Passover holiday celebration when the shooting occurred. The suspect, taken into custody after the shooting, has been identified as 19-year-old John Earnest, authorities said. The suspect has no prior contact with law enforcement, said San Diego Sheriff Bill Gore. Authorities are aware of an online manifesto that Earnest wrote, and are looking into digital evidence and checking the authenticity of the document, according to Gore. An anti-Semitic open letter was posted to the anonymous message board 8chan under the name of John Earnest before the attack. In the open letter, Earnest talked about planning the attack and references other attacks on houses of worship, including the recent mosque shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand. Earnest also claimed responsibility for a mosque fire in Escondido, a city northeast of downtown San Diego, on March 24. Gore said officials are checking Earnests possible involvement in the arson and vandalism of the mosque in Escondido. The wounded in the shooting were taken to Palomar Medical Center in Escondido. Police said a woman did not survive her injuries. A Rabbi underwent surgery after suffering defensive wounds to his index fingers. A 34-year-old man and a child were hit by shrapnel from bullets. The child has been transferred to Rady Childrens, the largest childrens hospital in California. Xinhua reporters saw roads near the synagogue blocked, and media gathered across from the synagogue. Bunches of flowers and prayer slogans were laid near the blockade lines. Some people sat on the ground and burst into tears. In a Poway incident community message, the San Diego County Sheriffs Department assured that there are no known threats to other religious gatherings. The suspect in the Poway incident today has been captured and we believe he acted alone, said the message. We encourage our communities to continue with scheduled events and other activities as normal, it said. Local police will be providing extra patrols at places of worship this weekend. Thoughts and prayers to all of those affected by the shooting at the Synagogue in Poway, California. God bless you all. Suspect apprehended. Law enforcement did outstanding job, U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted. Poway is the safest city in the San Diego County and among the safest in the state of California based on FBI crime data and population statistics, according to report of The San Diego Union-Tribune, a local daily newspaper. The incident came exactly six months after a deadly gun attack at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, which resulted in 11 fatalities and multiple injuries. Xinhua

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1 dead, 3 injured in California synagogue shooting, suspect identified