Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, who was injured after a gunman opened fire at his San Diego-area synagogue, said Sunday that his congregants would not be “intimidated or deterred” by the shooting, which left one dead and three injured.
“The Constitution of the United States guarantees freedom of religion for all faiths. And we are so grateful to live here in this country that protects our rights to live openly and proudly as Jews,” Goldstein said on NBC’s “Today.”
“One thing’s for sure. I guarantee you, we will not be intimidated or deterred by terror by this terror,” he continued. “Terror will not win.”
{mosads}Goldstein’s remarks came less than 24 hours after a gunman opened fire at a synagogue in Poway, Calif., with an AR-15, leaving one dead and multiple wounded.
The New York Time reported that the shooting occurred as dozens of people gathered at the Chabad of Poway during the last day of Passover, a holiday celebrating Jewish freedom.
Goldstein said in the interview that his fingers were “blown away” as he came face to face with the alleged shooter and that put his hands up as soon as the gunman began firing.
“I cannot erase that face from my mind,” he said. A 19-year-old suspect was charged Sunday with one count of murder in the first degree and three counts of attempted murder in the shooting, which authorities are describing as a hate crime.
Lori Gilbert-Kaye, 60, was killed as a result of the shooting. Authorities said that she was killed while stepping in front of Goldstein as he tried to evacuate children, USA Today reported.
“I’m just so heartbroken and saddened by the senseless killing,” Goldstein said, later adding that everyone needs to be a “hero” in the face of terror.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s office identified the alleged shooter Saturday night. The office said that the suspect shot four people at the Chabad of Poway synagogue before fleeing the scene and being apprehended by police a short distance down the road.