Federal Prosecutors will not seek death penalty for 2019 San Diego Synagogue shooter

Federal prosecutors have said they will not seek the death penalty for 22-year-old John T. Earnest, charged in the deadly shooting at Southern California synagogue, Chabad of Poway, on the last day of Passover in 2019.

The decision was disclosed Monday in a one-sentence court filing in federal court in San Diego, less than two months after US Attorney General Merrick Garland halted federal executions while the Justice Department is conducting a review of its policies and procedures.

In July, the shooter pleaded guilty to murder and other charges in state court. Earnest entered Chabad of Poway in April 2019 and opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle, killing 60-year-old Lori Gilbert-Kaye and wounding three others, the synagogue’s rabbi and an 8 yr old girl. Earnest stated to a 911 operator in the moments after the attack that he did it to “save white people from Jews.”

The San Diego County district attorney’s office said at the time that he agreed to serve the rest of his life in state prison without the possibility of parole. Sentencing is scheduled for September 30 (Israel National News).

ARTICLE: TAMMY FISHBACK

MANAGING EDITOR: CARSON CHOATE
PHOTO CREDITS: SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE

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