LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Police Department has arrested a suspect in the shootings of two men outside synagogues in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood of L.A. over the last two days.
The man has a history of animus toward the Jewish community, law enforcement sources told the Los Angeles Times.
Police believe that is likely the motivation for the attacks but are still gathering evidence, according to the sources, who asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation.
“For the last two days, the community has been on edge and continues to be on edge, even with the arrest of a suspect,” said Ariella Loewenstein, deputy regional director of the Anti-Defamation League Los Angeles. “Anytime that a community is targeted because of who they are — and in this case who they worship and being Jewish — it’s always terrifying.”
The league’s regional director, Jeffrey I. Abrams, said both men were assaulted with deadly weapons while leaving houses of worship. The victims survived the attacks.
The federation said that the first shooting occurred Wednesday near the intersection of Shenandoah and Cashio streets. The second shooting took place Thursday morning near Pickford and South Bedford streets, about two blocks away, according to the federation.
The first shooting happened around 10 a.m. Wednesday when a man in his 40s was shot in the back while walking to his vehicle, said Police Lt. Park, a spokesperson for the LAPD who declined to give his first name.
The second shooting happened around 8:30 a.m. Thursday, when a male victim was walking home and was shot in the arm, Park said. Both victims described seeing a male shooting suspect, he said.
Authorities tracked the suspect to an area in Riverside County, and investigators began working with federal and regional partners to find him, sources said. He was taken into custody around 5:45 p.m. Thursday.
Detectives recovered several items of evidence, including a rifle and a handgun.
Councilmember Katy Young Yaroslavsky, whose district includes Pico-Robertson, said earlier Thursday that she was concerned by the shootings, which coincide with “a rise in antisemitic attacks in recent months.” She also said there would be “heightened deployment around all Jewish institutions citywide.”
The LAPD release said police were “re-allocating police resources to provide a highly visible and preventative presence in the area.” There are several synagogues within a few blocks of the shooting sites.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon said on Twitter on Thursday night that his office was “working with the LAPD to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.”
“We stand in solidarity with members of the Jewish community and against these acts of violence,” he said.
