Poway Synagogue Shooting: Suspect Identified As San Diego Man

POWAY, CA — Officials have identified the gunman and victims in Saturday's shooting at Chabad of Poway synagogue. John Earnest, 19, of San Diego, was identified by authorities as the suspect who walked into the temple and opened fire, killing one person and injuring three more. The shooting happened around 11:30 a.m. Saturday, shortly after a Passover celebration was slated to begin.

An off-duty Border Patrol agent at the synagogue confronted the gunman, who was wielding an assault-style rifle, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said in a release. The agent fired at the shooter, but did not hit him. Officers apprehended the suspect near Rancho Bernardo Road and Interstate 15, down the road from the synagogue.

Investigators were searching Earnest's home, car and the synagogue for clues. Detectives were also looking into the authenticity of an online manifesto published, which has been reviewed by Patch. In the manifesto, the author expresses anti-Semitic and white supremacist views and praises past mass shooters.

No suspects are outstanding, Sgt. Aaron Meleen of the San Diego County Sheriff's Office told reporters.

The wounded were rushed to Palomar Medical Center with varying degrees of injuries. The names of the victims and shooter weren't immediately known.

A large group of people were gathered behind Chabad of Poway, authorities said. The exact number wasn't immediately known.

Saturday was the eighth and final day of Passover and a holiday celebration was scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the synagogue, according to a online flier posted on Facebook.

Mayor Steve Vaus told CNN he considered the shooting a hate crime due to statements the shooter made when he entered the building. The congregation was targeted by "someone with hate in their heart ... towards our Jewish community and that just will not stand," Vaus said.

He added that the congregation "took security very seriously."

"I also understand from folks on the scene that this shooter was engaged by people in the congregation and those brave people certainly prevented this from being a much worse tragedy," Vaus said.

President Donald Trump tweeted out his "thoughts and prayers " to those affected.

"Thoughts and prayers to all of those affected by the shooting at the Synagogue in Poway, California," Trump tweeted. "God bless you all. Suspect apprehended. Law enforcement did outstanding job. Thank you!"

Vice President Mike Pence, meanwhile, decried what he called an "evil" shooting.

"We condemn in the strongest terms the evil & cowardly shooting at Chabad of Poway today as Jewish families celebrated Passover," tweeted Pence. "No one should be in fear in a house of worship. Antisemitism isn’t just wrong - it’s evil."

The shooting comes exactly six months after the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh when a gunman killed 11 people. It was the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in American history, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

The scene at the Chabad Community Center where there was an active shooter. Several reports of injuries inside, shooter has been apprehended. @CBS8 pic.twitter.com/VAf0QgQSA7
— Tim Blodgett (@TCBlodgettKFMB) April 27, 2019

NEW: ⁦@realDonaldTrump⁩ on #SanDiegoSynagogueShooting .⁦@CBSNews⁩ pic.twitter.com/BwhPIGL05S
— Fin Gomez (@finnygo) April 27, 2019