(JTA) — John Earnest, the alleged gunman in the attack on the Chabad of Poway synagogue near San Diego was charged with murder.
Earnest, 19, was charged on April 28 with one count of Murder in the First Degree, and three counts of Attempted Murder in the First Degree, according to jail records posted on the website of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.
Lori Gilbert-Kaye, 60, was killed in the April 27 attack, and three people, including an 8-year-old girl, were injured.
Earnest is not eligible for bail, according to the sheriff’s department. He is scheduled to be arraigned on May 1.
Local officials have accused Earnest of a hate crime. Authorities are working to determine whether it can apply state hate crimes laws to the attack and if he violated federal civil rights laws, the Daily Beast reported.
Earnest called in the shooting to police after fleeing the scene. He was taken into police custody several blocks from the synagogue, reportedly emerging from his car with his hands in the air. An assault rifle was found in the front seat of the vehicle, as was an action camera, indicating that he had planned to film the synagogue shooting.
Earnest also claims that he set fire to a mosque in Escondido, Calif., in the weeks after the shooting at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. The claim is under investigation.
A nursing student, Earnest is on the dean’s list at California State University, San Marcos.
He said in a manifesto posted on 8Chan, a conspiracy theory message board, that he was inspired by the Tree of Life synagogue gunman in Pittsburgh along with the New Zealand mosque shooter.
John Singer wants to help Marylanders of all economic backgrounds to afford ankle foot orthoses.
Steve Hofstetter, who will perform at Soundstage next week, recently made headlines for his social media post ridiculing some fans' warnings about Charm City's safety.
Marc Terrill talks with Maryland State Delegate Samuel "Sandy" Rosenberg (D-41st), one of the longest serving lawmakers in state history, about the recently completed Maryland legislative session.
Israeli-Americans Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin talked about the pain of losing their 23-year-old son, who was kidnapped and later murdered in the Oct. 7th tragedy.