The suspect in the the shooting of an Orthodox Jewish man in Chicago Saturday morning, is an illegal immigrant from northwest Africa who crossed the Biden-Harris open border a year and a half ago, the New York Post’s Karol Markowicz reported on X, Monday.
Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi, 22, shot the Jewish man in the shoulder as he was walking to a synagogue in Chicago’s West Ridge neighborhood, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Abdallahi was arrested later Saturday after he opened fire on police and paramedics.
As paramedics were rendering aid to the victim, and officers were investigating the scene, the gunman emerged from an alley and fired shots at the officers, hitting a Chicago Fire Department ambulance, police said.
The gunman continued to shoot at officers multiple times from different locations as officers returned fire. He was shot multiple times, then taken into custody and transported to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, where he was listed in critical condition, police said.
Abdallahi was captured on video screaming “Allahu Akbar” during the shootout with police.
The gunman was charged with six felony counts of attempted murder, seven felony counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm, and aggravated battery.”
Alderwoman Debra Silverstein (50th Ward) expressed disappointment in a statement that hate crime charges have not yet been added to the charges.
“Notably, and despite evidence that seems to suggest an anti-semitic motive for the shooting, authorities did not file hate crime charges,” Silverstein said.
“I am very disappointed by this turn of events and strongly encourage the Cook County State’s Attorney Office to prosecute the offender to the full extent of the law. The police have assured me that they are continuing to gather evidence, and additional charges — including hate crime charges — can still be added,” Silverstein stated.
She added that the victim was doing well, and she has already met with him. Silverstein said the event has been harmful to the West Ridge community, which is disproportionately Jewish.
“The Jewish community is always on high alert, and this is just adding to our anxiety,” Silverstein said.
Police shot Abdallahi multiple times, critically injuring him. He was scheduled for a detention hearing on Tuesday, although he remained in a local hospital Monday.
City leaders held a press conference with Chicago PD Superintendent Larry Snelling, Detective chief Antoinette Ursitti, and Alderman Debra Silverstein Monday afternoon to brief the media on the investigation. Snelling said Abdallahi’s immigration status was still under investigation and police are still trying to identify a valid address for him.
Ursitti refused to confirm that Abdallahi’ shouted “Allahu Akbar,” telling reporters she wanted to make sure she was “not misstating anything.” She did say that nothing he said could support a motive in his actions against the victim.
According to Richard Goldberg, a senior advisor for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), Chicago authorities described the suspect as “African” in a call with Jewish leaders Sunday.
“FBI is involved in the investigation but everyone is staying silent,” Goldberg posted on X. “Chicago Police privately say they fear being accused of Islamophobia if they so much as confirm the case is merely being investigated as a hate crime. Unconfirmed nationality and legal status of shooter.”
Start the discussion at community.amgreatness.com