Two Jewish men were shot in separate incidents on two consecutive days, while they were both leaving from shul following shacharis. Agudath Israel said they are “greatly concerned.”
Two Jewish men were shot in separate incidents on two consecutive days, while they were both leaving from shul following shacharis.
The first incident took place Wednesday morning at around 9:56 am PT near Cashio and Shenandoah in Pico-Robertson, an area of Los Angeles densely populated with Orthodox Jews, Yeshiva World News reported.
The Magen Am private security service reportedly had a trainee at the scene when the shooting occurred, and he contacted the police.
According to reports, the assailant – believed to be an Asian male with gray hair and a goatee – drove a gray Honda, possibly a Civic – towards his victim and fired 2 shots. The victim was grazed by one of the bullets and taken to a hospital for treatment before being released.
The shooter’s motive is currently unknown.
Less than 24 hours later, a second Jewish man was shot in the same area of Los Angeles.
The victim was shot while leaving a Shul in the area of S. Bedford and Pico Boulevard. Los Angeles Hatzalah was on the scene along with EMS and LAPD. Thursday’s shooting happened exactly 24 hours after another Jewish man was shot.
Agudath Israel released a statement saying there were “greatly concerned over two shootings on consecutive days victimizing Orthodox Jews leaving their synagogues following morning prayers.”
“Our California office has been in touch with the Los Angeles Police Department, as well as Los Angeles Councilwoman Katy Young Yaroslovsky’s office, who are taking this situation very seriously. While we do not yet know who the shooter(s) are, if the cases are related, or what the motivations may have been, Agudath Israel feels that these incidents should be investigated as hate crimes until we know otherwise. In the meantime we ask all Los Angeles institutions to be especially vigilant in the days ahead,” they wrote.
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