The two men, one of whom was attacked on Thursday and the other on Wednesday evening, are currently in stable condition
A suspect was arrested after two separate shootings targeting two Jewish men leaving a synagogue in Los Angeles, California this week, police said Friday morning.
“We continue to investigate the two separate shootings involving members of our Los Angeles Jewish community and have learned from our partners that the sole suspect allegedly responsible for both shootings has been arrested,” the Los Angeles Jewish Community said in a statement. communicated. “We are incredibly grateful to law enforcement for their diligence in apprehending the suspect.”
The community has learned that the suspect is “known for his anti-Semitism and these incidents will be treated as hate crimes.” The two men, one of whom was attacked on Thursday and the other on Wednesday evening, are currently in stable condition.
Los Angeles police described the incidents as “eerily similar”. The two acts were perpetrated by an individual in a vehicle, identified Wednesday “as an Asian type man” and Thursday as a “Caucasian type man”. “It is terrible that Los Angeles is facing this,” read a statement from Magen Am, a Jewish security service. “We want the city to take a strong stance to protect the synagogues.”
Katy Young Yaroslavsky, a city council member whose district includes the Pico-Robertson neighborhood, said Thursday she was concerned about the shooting, which coincides with “an increase in anti-Semitic attacks in recent months.”
Police said patrols around Jewish places of worship and surrounding neighborhoods will be stepped up over the weekend.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said Thursday night on Twitter that his office was “working with the LAPD to ensure those responsible are held accountable.” “We stand in solidarity with members of the Jewish community and against these acts of violence,” he added.
