The young man charged with carrying out a hate-motivated shooting at the Chabad of Poway that killed one woman and injured three others pleaded guilty Friday to all 113 federal charges filed against him.
What to Know
A worshipper was killed and three others were injured, including a rabbi and an 8-year-old girl, when a man with an assault rifle opened fire inside the Chabad of Poway synagogue on April 27, 2019
Weeks before the attack, someone tried to set fire to an Escondido mosque. Both crimes were linked to the same suspect
The shooter pleaded guilty to all 113 federal charges filed against him
The young man charged with carrying out a hate-motivated shooting at the Chabad of Poway that killed one woman and injured three others pleaded guilty Friday to all 113 federal charges filed against him, and is slated to be sentenced in both state and federal courts later this year for the deadly attack.
John Timothy Earnest, 22, previously pleaded guilty to murder and other state charges in connection with the April 27, 2019, attack, in which 60-year-old Lori Gilbert Kaye was killed after being shot twice in the synagogue's foyer. Kaye, a longtime member of Chabad of Poway, was at the temple with her husband and daughter to honor her mother, who had recently died.
The congregation's rabbi, Yisroel Goldstein, lost a finger in the shooting. Two other people -- Almog Peretz and his then-8-year-old niece, Noya Dahan -- were also injured.
Prosecutors say 54 people were inside the synagogue when Earnest opened fire on the last day of Passover.
Surveillance footage from the date of the crime appears to show the shooter's rifle jam or malfunction after he entered the synagogue and began firing. He then fled the scene after being chased out by congregants, drove a short distance away, called police and directed them to his location, where he was arrested.
The former Rancho Penasquitos resident and Cal State San Marcos nursing student previously faced a potential death penalty in parallel state and federal prosecutions, but through his pleas, will avoid capital punishment in both cases.
He also pleaded guilty to an arson charge for setting fire to the Dar- ul-Arqam Mosque in Escondido on March 24, 2019. According to the plea agreement, seven missionaries were asleep inside the mosque at the time, but were able to extinguish the flames and escape injury.
He faced a potential death penalty in both prosecutions, but through his pleas, will avoid capital punishment.
A former college student admitted Tuesday that he fired an assault rifle inside a synagogue filled with worshipers during Passover in 2019, reports NBC 7's Artie Ojeda
Earnest is set to be sentenced later this month to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus 137 years to life, in the state's case. Federal prosecutors and Earnest are jointly seeking a federal prison term of life in prison, plus 30 years, when he is sentenced Dec. 28 in San Diego federal court.
As part of his plea in the state's prosecution, Earnest admitted that he specifically targeted the victims because they were Jewish.
For the first time we're seeing exactly how the Poway Synagogue shooting unfolded, and hearing the moments the accused shooter turned himself in. NBC 7's Danny Freeman walks us through it all.
The U.S. Attorney's Office said that in a manifesto he posted online shortly before the shooting, he wrote, "I can only kill so many Jews" and "I only wish I killed more."
The shooting triggered a series of lawsuits from the victims of the shooting against Earnest, the Chabad itself, the gun store that sold Earnest the weapon and gun manufacturers.
Melissa Adan/NBC 7
Images taken outside Chabad of Poway on Monday, April 29, the afternoon of the funeral service for shooting victim Lori Gilbert-Kaye.
NBC 7
Hannah Kaye (L) and her father Howard Kaye, M.D. talk about their mother/wife Lori Gilbert-Kaye at her funeral service on Monday, April, 29, 2019.
Melissa Adan/NBC 7
Images taken outside Chabad of Poway on Monday, April 29, the afternoon of the funeral service for shooting victim Lori Gilbert-Kaye.
Melissa Adan/NBC 7
Images taken outside Chabad of Poway on Monday, April 29, the afternoon of the funeral service for shooting victim Lori Gilbert-Kaye.
Crystal Whitman
Images taken outside Chabad of Poway on Monday, April 29, the afternoon of the funeral service for shooting victim Lori Gilbert-Kaye.
David McNew/Getty Images
People attend a prayer and candlelight vigil at Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church on April 27, 2019, in Poway, California.
David McNew/Getty Images
People attend a prayer and candlelight vigil at Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church on April 27, 2019, in Poway, California.
AP
A couple holds candles during a vigil held for victims of the Chabad of Poway synagogue shooting, Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Poway, California.
David McNew/Getty Images
People attend a prayer and candlelight vigil at Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church on April 27, 2019, in Poway, California. A gunman opened fire at the Chabad of Poway synagogue on the last day of Passover, leaving one person dead and three others injured. The suspect is in custody.
AP
Noya Dahan, 8, rides on the shoulders of her father, Israel Dahan, at a candlelight vigil held for victims of the Chabad of Poway synagogue shooting, Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Poway, California. Dahan was one of the people injured when a 19-year-old gunman opened fire at the synagogue, killing one person and injuring three others.
Getty Images
People embrace outside the Chabad of Poway synagogue on April 27, 2019, in Poway, California.
AP
Leslie Gollub, left, and Gretchen Gordon hug at a vigil held to support the victims of Saturday's shooting at Chabad of Poway synagogue, Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Poway, California.
Denis Poroy/AP
People gather and react outside of the Chabad of Poway synagogue on April 27, 2019, in Poway, California. A 19-year-old man opened fire inside the synagogue near San Diego as worshippers celebrated the last day of a major Jewish holiday, killing a woman and injuring three other people. A rabbi who was injured in the shooting said the gunman's gun jammed, preventing more deaths or injuries.
NBC 7
A 19-year-old San Diego man with a rifle entered Chabad of Poway on Rancho Bernardo Road, west of Interstate 15 at 11:23 a.m. and opened fire on the people inside, law enforcement officials said.
Richard Wilson
More than half a dozen police cars were seen along Rancho Bernardo Road outside Phil’s BBQ -- roughly two miles away from the temple --- where the suspect was apprehended. The 19-year-old pulled over, jumped out of his car with his hands up and was taken into custody, SDPD Chief David Nisleit said. "As the officer was placing this 19-year-old male into custody, he clearly saw a rifle sitting on the front passenger seat of the suspect vehicle," he said.
Richard Wilson
As the suspect fled the scene, an off-duty U.S. Border Patrol agent who was in the synagogue at the time of the shooting opened fire on the suspect, missing the man but striking his vehicle, San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore said.
NBC 7
One woman died from injuries suffered in the shooting. A girl and two adult men were injured and rushed to Palomar Medical Center Poway, officials confirmed at 2:30 p.m.
NBC 7
A memorial of flowers and signs began growing outside the synagogue. One of the signs said, “Our thoughts & prayers are with you. May the community know no more sorrow.”
NBC 7
President Donald Trump commented on the shooting, saying, "We're doing some very heavy research we'll see what happens, what comes up, at this moment it looks like a hate crime, but my deepest sympathies to all of those affected and we'll get to the bottom of it."
Crystal Whitman
One of the signs at a memorial in honor of the victims of the synagogue shooting said, “We will build this world from LOVE.”
NBC 7
This is Lori Kane and Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, two victims of the shooting. 60-year-old Kane died from injuries suffered in the shooting and 57-year-old Rabbi Goldstein suffered injuries to index fingers.
NBC 7
This is the last picture taken of Lori Kane (Third from left) at her best-friends daughter's graduation taken on Friday, Apr. 26.
A city-wide prayer vigil was held Sunday night at Valle Verde Community Park at 7 p.m. where Rabbi Goldstein and mayor, Steve Vaus from Poway were in attendance
This is eight-year-old Noya Dahan, one of the youngest victims in the shooting, she sustained shrapnel injuries and was released out of the hospital the same day the shooting happened.
This is 34-year-old Almog Peretz, one of the victims, he sustained shrapnel and gunshot wounds in his legs and face. He has been released from the hospital.
The shooting triggered a series of lawsuits from the victims of the shooting against Earnest, the Chabad itself, the gun store that sold Earnest the weapon and gun manufacturers.
