The gunman who allegedly shot an Orthodox Jewish man walking to synagogue Saturday morning in Chicago has been identified as 22-year-old Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi.
Abdallahi reportedly shot the 39-year-old victim at 9:25 a.m. in Chicago’s West Rogers Park neighborhood, before returning less than 30 minutes later and opening fire on police and paramedics. A neighbor’s security camera caught him screaming “Allahu Akbar” during the second shooting.
Police then returned fire and wounded Abdallahi, who was brought to a hospital.
In a video shared with The Daily Wire, police are seen shooting Abdallahi on a sidewalk. In another video, the neighbors’ reaction is documented as they discover the shooter injured outside their home.
Abdallahi was charged with 14 felony counts including 6 counts of attempted murder in the first degree, seven counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm, and one count of aggravated battery/discharge of a firearm, according to a statement from the Chicago Police Department. His detention hearing will be on Tuesday.
Abdallahi was not charged with a hate crime, drawing criticism from neighbors and local leaders.
“Notably, and despite evidence that seems to suggest an antisemitic motive for the shooting, authorities did not file hate crime charges,” 50th Ward Alderman Debra Silverstein said in a statement. “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.”
Silverstein added that she has spoken to police who “share our disgust at a Jewish man being the victim of violence over the Jewish holidays.”
A weapon was recovered on the scene.
In a video provided by a neighbor named Malka, Abdallahi was heard screaming “Allahu Akbar” while shooting outside her home. Malka told The Daily Wire she was at home alone with her baby and grabbed a knife for protection.
“I ran to my window and I saw a guy who was walking his dog crouching by a tree on my property and I opened my door and offered to let him inside,” Malka said, adding that she didn’t realize the shooter was also on her property when she opened the door.
“When I went back inside and looked out the window, I saw the perpetrator shoot at a guy who was running for cover,” she said. “I was worried he was going to come for me because I have a big Israeli flag in front of my house.”
In a statement released by the Jewish United Fund, Jewish community leaders said they met with police and local politicians who confirmed the gunman yelled “Allahu Akbar.”
“CPD has confirmed that while shooting at its officers the suspect, presumably Muslim, shouted out ‘Allahu Akbar.’”
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