Suspected synagogue shooter charged with hate crimes

Federal prosecutors charged the man suspected of opening fire in a California synagogue, killing one, with 109 hate crime violations including the murder of one person and the attempted murder of 53 others. 

The complaint against John Earnest, 19, said his alleged crimes were motivated by hatred of the Jewish community, prosecutors said in a statement Thursday. He was specifically charged with 54 counts of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs using a dangerous weapon, resulting in death, bodily injury, and attempts to kill and 54 counts of hate crimes. 

{mosads}Authorities also said that Earnest admitted in a manifesto to committing arson of a mosque. He was also charged with one count of damage to religious property by use of fire relating to the alleged incident. 

Earnest is accused of entering the Chabad of Poway synagogue in Poway, Calif., on the last day of the Jewish Passover holiday with an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle and killing one person and injuring three others including a minor, according to the statement, which cited an affidavit. 

Prosecutors also said that Earnest’s manifesto containing anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim statements, where he allegedly admitted to the mosque incident. He also allegedly said that he regretted not being able to kill more people. 

“We will not allow our community members to be hunted in their houses of worship, where they should feel free and safe to exercise their right to practice their religion,” U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer Jr. said in the statement. “Our actions today are inspired by our desire to achieve justice for all of the victims and their families.”

The charges follow the death of Lori Kaye, 60, who was struck twice in the shooting while praying, according to The Associated Press. 

People who were injured include an 8-year-old girl, her uncle and Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein.

Last month, Earnest pleaded not guilty to state murder and attempted murder charges. He also pleaded not guilty in the mosque fire.

Updated at 4:20 p.m.