Man from Schenectady sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for discharging a shotgun outside Albany synagogue
In a significant ruling, Mufid Fawaz Alkhader, a 29-year-old man from Schenectady, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for an incident that occurred outside Albany's Temple Israel during Hanukkah celebrations in 2023.
The incident, which led to the cancellation of a concert and candle lighting ceremony, saw Alkhader walk towards the entrance of the synagogue with a Kel-Tec shotgun. He fired twice into the air while shouting "Free Palestine."
Alkhader also attempted to rip down an Israeli flag before his arrest, which took place nearby. The incident left at least 24 children present in an on-site early childhood center feeling scared. Congregants felt similarly fearful, with many expressing reluctance to return following the incident.
In addition to prison time, Alkhader was ordered to serve 5 years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to conspiring to illegally buy a firearm, obstructing the free exercise of religion with a dangerous weapon, and brandishing a firearm in a crime of violence.
Alkhader's co-accuser, whose name is not publicly available, was previously sentenced to 14 months in prison for helping Alkhader illegally obtain the shotgun. The sentencing, which occurred in 2023, is intended to send a message that hate-fueled violence will be met with serious consequences.
It is important to note that Andrew Miller, Alkhader's co-defendant, was also sentenced to 14 months in prison for his role in the incident.
Alkhader took an Uber to Temple Israel on Dec. 7, 2023, the day of the incident. The synagogue in question, Temple Israel, has since taken measures to ensure the safety and security of its congregants and visitors.
