Suspect in Synagogue Shooting Faces Gun Charges Again, Fed Says
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York announced on Monday that Mufid Fawaz Alkhader, 28, is now charged with conspiring to make a false statement in the purchase of a firearm and possession of a firearm as an illegal user.
According to investigators, Alkhader fired two shots outside the Temple Israel in Albany on December 7th. He was later apprehended on that day, confessing to police that "events in the Middle East had influenced him" and that he "regularly smoked marijuana."
These statements supported the initial accusation that Alkhader possessed a firearm while illegally consuming a controlled substance.
In a press release issued on Monday, the prosecutor's office revealed that Alkhader obtained the shotshell used outside the synagogue through a friend's false purchase. The friend supposedly checked the "yes" box when asked if the weapon was for his own use, and cautioned him about the potential federal offense of purchasing a firearm for another person without a proper license.
Alkhader, it was claimed, didn't attempt to buy the shotgun himself because he believed he was barred from firearm ownership due to previous protective or temporary restraining orders.
Previously, authorities had stated that the gun was manufactured outside the U.S., entering the interstate market.
Timothy Austin, Alkhader's lawyer during his first court appearance, was requested for comment by CNN.
The incident occurred during the ongoing conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas, causing many Jews, Muslims, Palestinians, and others in the U.S. to express fear of hate-motivated attacks.
As the conflict persists, tensions in the U.S. intensify. This is evident in the death of a Jewish demonstrator at a rally in Southern California and the shooting of three Palestinian college students in Vermont, making the situation increasingly volatile.
CNN's Polo Sandoval and Kristina Sgueglia contributed to this report.
Related Topics:
The man, known as 'us' (referring to Alkhader), was first accused of illegally possessing a firearm and lying to obtain it. However, the precise details about a false statement in gun purchase forms are not provided in the sources.
Sources:
Enrichment Data:
In further details, Mufid Fawaz Alkhader, the man accused of shooting outside an Albany synagogue, also faced initial charges of illegally possessing a firearm and lying to obtain it. However, the specifics about a false statement in gun purchase forms are not explicitly mentioned in the given sources.
The sources do present some additional information, as follows: - Initial Charges: Alkhader was first accused of illegally possessing a firearm and lying to obtain it[1]. - Plea Agreement: Subsequently, he pleaded guilty to charges of obstructing the free exercise of religion with a weapon and brandishing a firearm during a violent crime[1][3]. - Co-Conspirator: Another individual, Andrew Miller, pleaded guilty to conspiring with Alkhader to lie to a firearms dealer about the true buyer of a shotgun. Miller was sentenced to 14 months for his role in the straw purchase conspiracy[1].
The exact details mentioned in the provided sources with regard to a false statement in gun purchase forms are not extensively covered.
[1] Source: [2] Source: [3] Source:
