A 28-year-old individual, who declared "Free Palestine" and fired shots outside Albanys Temple Israel, is now in police custody, as per Eric Hawkins, Albany's Police Chief. The shooting, which took place hours before the commencement of Chanukka celebrations, resulted in no reported injuries.
CNN sources and a state official informed CNN that rounds were fired into the air. Police found shotgun shells on the buildings entrance stairway, they mentioned.
After the incident, the suspect fled approximately 300 meters from the parking lot and collided with a person in a car, Hawkins revealed. He added that the suspect claimed to feel like a victim in the encounter.
Subsequently, the suspect dropped his shotgun, and the police took him into custody, Hawkins stated. Based on the available information, the suspect acted alone, and there's no broader threat to the community, Hawkins noted.
Preliminary details regarding the incident were not immediately available. Hawkins was unclear about the charges that the suspect would face.
New York State Police and the ATF are questioning suspects and investigators are considering the possibility of weapon-related charges, a law enforcement source told CNN. Sources noted that they would also pursue the weapon to determine if the suspect legally possessed it or if it was stolen.
Following the incident, New York state Governor Kathy Hochul directed the State Police and National Guard to strengthen existing Chanukka patrols.
"Law enforcement agencies at federal, state, and local levels are investigating, and I spoke with the Rabbi to assure her that the state will do everything in its power to restore the sense of security that her community needs," Hochul wrote in a statement.
Further details about the suspect and the incident have not been disclosed as investigations continue.
Additional Reads:
[Sources: edition.cnn.com]
[1] Hanifin, J. (2025, February 4). Synagogue shooter pleads guilty in federal court. [2] Levin, C. (2024, December 8). Man arrested for shooting outside upstate New York synagogue. [3] Hernandez, M., & Szekeres, M. (2025, February 4). Alkhader pleads guilty to federal charges in synagogue shooting incident.
