Watch CBS News

Poway Synagogue Shooting Leaves 1 Dead, 3 Injured

POWAY (CBSLA) - A shooting at the Chabad of Poway synagogue left one dead and three others injured Saturday morning.

San Diego County Sheriff's Office responded to reports of a man with a gun just before 11:30 a.m. at 16934 Chabad Way.

The suspect entered with an "AR type assault weapon" and opened fire among the people inside the synagogue, according to local authorities.

During the shooting, four people were wounded and transported to Palomar Medical Center.

In a news conference on Saturday afternoon, it was confirmed that one person succumbed to their injuries and the other three are reported to be in stable condition.

The woman killed in the synagogue shooting has been identified as Lori Gilbert Kaye. She leaves behind a husband and 22-year-old daughter.

The rabbi of Poway Chabad, Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, was shot in the hand -- losing two fingers.

The other two injured victims -- Noya Dahan, 8, and her uncle, Along Peretz, 32 -- were listed in stable condition.

An off-duty Border Patrol agent saw the suspect feeling the scene and opened fire but did not strike the suspect.

An officer en route to the scene overheard a California Highway Patrol scanner report that the suspect could be located at Rancho Bernardo Road and I-15.

As he exited the freeway, the officer spotted the suspect in his vehicle and pulled him over.

The officer arrested the 19-year-old white male from San Diego -- identified as John T. Earnest. As he was taking the suspect into custody, he could see a rifle on the front passenger seat of the suspect's vehicle.

It was being advised to stay clear of the area to allow deputies from the San Diego County Sheriff's Department to investigate.

Earnest reportedly posted an anti-Semitic letter to the far-right message board 8chan hours before the shooting.

Investigators were reviewing the validity of the manifesto.

In the manifesto, the alleged shooter drew inspiration from the mosque shooting in New Zealand.

Officials said that they were investigating Earnest's possible involvement in arson at a mosque in Escondido about a month ago.

At nearby Rancho Bernardo Community church, a candlelight vigil brought out people from different faiths on Saturday night.

The Poway attack comes exactly six months after the synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh.

The senior pastor at Rancho Bernardo Community Church organized the impromptu vigil within a couple hours.

"I think people want some type of stability when something like this happens. And we don't know what to offer other than be together," said Rev. Dr. Bryan Stamper, Rancho Bernardo Community Church.

"It's in our DNA to put our arms around one another and take care of our neighbors," said Steve Vaus, mayor of Poway.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.