Detectives search for suspect, motive in North Hollywood synagogue shootings [Updated]

A gunman entered the grounds of a North Hollywood synagogue this morning and shot and wounded two men who were going to a prayer service.

[Updated at 12:37 p.m.: A 17-year-old who was detained this morning near the synagogue for questioning in the shooting has been released, according to LAPD Lt. John Romero.]

While police initially said they were investigating the shooting as a hate crime, officials later said it's too early to tell whether the attack was motivated by religious hate.

The initial description of the suspect was of a black man wearing a black hoodie. But law enforcement sources told The Times that the investigation was wide open and that police were investigating all possibilities, including whether the gunman specifically targeted either of the victims.

One source said detectives were not certain of the suspect's race.

[Updated at 12:38 p.m.: Several law enforcement sources also said investigators are looking at whether the shootings were related to a business or personal dispute. The sources said detectives believe one of the victims was the target, and that a second victim may have been shot because he witnessed the attack.]

Speaking to reporters outside the taped-off synagogue, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called the incident "a senseless act of violence." But the mayor was careful to temper worries that the shooting was a hate crime.

"None of us should presume or speculate more about this other than it was a random act of violence," he said.

The unidentified gunman walked into the underground parking garage of Adat Yeshurun Valley Sephardic synagogue at 12405 Sylvan Street shortly before 6:20 a.m., said LAPD Deputy Chief Michel Moore. He approached a man in his 40s who was parking his car to attend prayer service.

"Without any words," Moore said, the suspect shot the man in the leg. He then fired at a second man in his 40s who had also arrived for prayers. The second victim was also wounded in the leg. The gunman then fled from the garage. Witnesses called 911.

Moore said both victims were in good condition at local hospitals.

Detectives are "working with [the victims] to understand more information," Moore said. They do not believe the motive was robbery, according to LAPD sources, who spoke to The Times on the condition they not be named because the investigation was ongoing.

Los Angeles police arrested a man about an hour later near the synagogue, but sources said they do not believe he was the gunman. LAPD officials have alerted other synagogues around Los Angeles about the shooting, and police have stepped up patrols at Jewish religious institutions.

Adat Yeshurun is in the heart of the San Fernando Valley's Orthodox Jewish community and within walking distance of kosher markets and other synagogues. Many people move to the area so they could walk to temple.

The sources said detectives are trying to determine the motive, and whether the gunman acted alone or as part of a larger group.  LAPD detectives were reviewing security videotapes from the temple in hopes of better understanding the chain of events.

They were also searching a nearby park to see if the suspect was hiding there.

Yehuda Oz, 53, a man of Tunisian descent, has attended the Sephardic Jewish temple for the last 15 years. He arrived early this morning to begin his regular morning prayers.

About an hour later, as he prayed with some 15 others in the temple's quiet sanctuary, four gunshots broke the silence, he said.

He said he heard screams from the parking lot, then saw two men stumble into the temple.

Their blood spread over the floor as people rushed to stop the bleeding, Oz said, but no one inside saw the shooter.

"Maybe it was crazy person. Maybe he was drugged up. Maybe it was a Jew. We don't know," Oz said, nervously adjusting his yarmulke as he stood outside the taped-off scene with two friends.

Oz said the two men who were shot were latecomers who had just parked their cars.

The temple, which has a congregation of mostly Moroccan and other North African Jews, installed security cameras years ago to discourage attacks, Yehuda said.

"This is a good place," he said.

A girls' school at the synagogue with 112 students canceled classes today.  At least two rabbis from neighboring synagogues who were at the scene this morning said they were counseling their own congregants to stay calm.

“The feeling is that we’ve got to keep our eyes open for each other,” said Rabbi Nachman Nabend of Chabad of North Hollywood. “It makes me angry when anyone gets targeted.”

Adat Ari El, the fourth-largest conservative synagogue in L.A. with a 750-family congregation, is about two miles away from Adat Yeshurun. Joanne Klein, executive director at Adat Ari El, said there are more LAPD patrol cars in the area and her synagogue is increasing its own security by closing multiple entrances and adding additional security guards.

“We’re watchful,” said Klein. “We’re taking extra precautions and we’re paying attention to what’s going on in the community. We’re still open for business."

At Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, Maor Ben-Nissan, 37, was undergoing surgery after being shot in the leg, his friends and family members said.

His wife, brother-in-law and friends gathered at the hospital, drinking coffee and hovering around the TV, watching live coverage from the synagogue. Ben-Nissan lives in North Hollywood with his wife, Anat, and 2-year-old son. He owns a tile store and is very devout, going to synagogue every morning, friends said. “I haven’t seen my husband yet,” said Anat, whose eyes were red.

His brother-in-law, who said he did not want to give his name, said he had arrived at the synagogue a few minutes before Ben-Nissan and was in the synagogue when the shooting occurred. He heard four shots.

 “We panicked and ran,” the brother-in-law said. As he went out, he saw Ben-Nissan hobbling up the stairs, and saw the blood on his leg and on the stairs.

 “He called my name. I ran to him,” the brother-in-law said.

-- Robert Faturechi, Andrew Blankstein and Duke Helfand in North Hollywood; Anna Gorman in Mission Hills; Catherine Saillant in Van Nuys; and Richard Winton, Baxter Holmes and Raja Abdulrahim in Los Angeles

More Photos
 

Photo: LAPD officers investigate the shooting of two people at the Adat Yeshurun Valley Sephardic synagogue in North Hollywood. Credit: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles police arrested a man about an hour later near the synagogue, but sources said they do not believe he was the gunman. LAPD officials have alerted other synagogues around Los Angeles about the shooting, and police have stepped up patrols at Jewish religious institutions.

Adat Yeshurun is in the heart of the San Fernando Valley's Orthodox Jewish community and within walking distance of kosher markets and other synagogues. Many people move to the area so they could walk to temple.

The sources said detectives are trying to determine the motive, and whether the gunman acted alone or as part of a larger group.  LAPD detectives were reviewing security videotapes from the temple in hopes of better understanding the chain of events.

They were also searching a nearby park to see if the suspect was hiding there.

Yehuda Oz, 53, a man of Tunisian descent, has attended the Sephardic Jewish temple for the last 15 years. He arrived early this morning to begin his regular morning prayers.

About an hour later, as he prayed with some 15 others in the temple's quiet sanctuary, four gunshots broke the silence, he said.

He said he heard screams from the parking lot, then saw two men stumble into the temple.

Their blood spread over the floor as people rushed to stop the bleeding, Oz said, but no one inside saw the shooter.

"Maybe it was crazy person. Maybe he was drugged up. Maybe it was a Jew. We don't know," Oz said, nervously adjusting his yarmulke as he stood outside the taped-off scene with two friends.

Oz said the two men who were shot were latecomers who had just parked their cars.

The temple, which has a congregation of mostly Moroccan and other North African Jews, installed security cameras years ago to discourage attacks, Yehuda said.

"This is a good place," he said.

A girls' school at the synagogue with 112 students canceled classes today.  At least two rabbis from neighboring synagogues who were at the scene this morning said they were counseling their own congregants to stay calm.

“The feeling is that we’ve got to keep our eyes open for each other,” said Rabbi Nachman Nabend of Chabad of North Hollywood. “It makes me angry when anyone gets targeted.”

Adat Ari El, the fourth-largest conservative synagogue in L.A. with a 750-family congregation, is about two miles away from Adat Yeshurun. Joanne Klein, executive director at Adat Ari El, said there are more LAPD patrol cars in the area and her synagogue is increasing its own security by closing multiple entrances and adding additional security guards.

“We’re watchful,” said Klein. “We’re taking extra precautions and we’re paying attention to what’s going on in the community. We’re still open for business."

At Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, Maor Ben-Nissan, 37, was undergoing surgery after being shot in the leg, his friends and family members said.

Comments

[pitbullstew]

kind of interesting observation here? 7 stories on this shooting and how many other people are shot down killed today and theres hardly any mention of those, if at all?
and certainly not the rolling out of resources as is the example here? why is that?

[A;ex]

Again, the jewish duplicity manipulating the gentile american police force. One this country is a Christian Country. Two, why are these jews receiving more preferencial treatment than any other social group? why why? where is common sense

[J. C.]

I am constantly amazed at the lack of discretion used by journalists and media personnel. These poor victims suffered a life-threatening, psychologically traumatic event. Not only do you carelessly give his full name, you give where he lives, what type of business he owns, and details about his family. How stupid of you, to think that the gunman may use this information supplied by YOU to further terrorize this family. HOW STUPID AND INSENSITIVELY MORONIC COULD YOU BE? I PRAY, THAT GOD WILL PROTECT THIS FAMILY AND OTHERS NOT ONLY FROM THESE RANDOM CRIMES, BUT FROM INCONSIDERATE AND CARELESS MORONS SUCH AS YOU AND YOUR STAFF.

[Jess]

Because these people are cho-cho-"chosen".

Whatever the hell that means..

[Mim]

It is such a sad commentary of our times if this is a hate crime. Isn't it time to look past the differences and realize that we are all one people, one planet? Will that day ever come? We have to pray for that.

[Maggie]

I find it irresponsible and a waste of taxpayers’ money for the LAPD to be wasting so much man power in investigating a shooting at a synagogue and to send more officers to protect all the synagogues around Los Angeles. If it was a shooting at Catholic Church, Mosque, or other religious place, they would not even bother doing anything about it. They will treat it as another shooting in our City. But since it happened at a Jewish temple, all of the resources should be used and a perpetrator should be found ASAP. I guess the job of the LAPD is to protect and serve all Jewish citizens of the City and the rest of us should fend for ourselves. What a waste of taxpayer money.

[Steve]

If you read the initial LA Times story Thursday morning, it most definitely jumped to the 'hate crime' conclusion. Now LA Times is backing away from that.

Nice to know that the Times won't hesitate to stir up ethnic tension if it means grabbing a headline.

[Bill]

Pitbullstew you see what you want to see. There are stories (far too many) of people of all strips that are victims of violence. Stop with the comments and get your hands dirty to find solutions...for all our communities

[Moishe]

I am glad the police are taking their time and doing a thorough investigation.

Pitbull:
It's not that the news media or the police ignore other senseless acts of violence, it's just that when Jews are being targeted by some who are fanatical or envious(disregarding the optimistic figures on anti-semitism), it's newsworthy.

Nevertheless, while I am Jewish and this piqued my interest, I certainly hope we don't rush to judgment here. If it is a hate crime, then people need to act upon it fast by intervention (not violence).

[VVunder]

pitbullstew..

I'm not sure what you are implying. ..but.... I think you will find that anytime people are attacked or shot at a place of worship or places with a cultural/religious affiliation, more attention is paid & it often becomes national and sometime international news. As for the "rolling out of resources” ... Because of the nature & location of the crime it may or may not have been a spree or hate crime. I think it's worth trying to catch & stop another attack. Don’t you?

[Concerned Citizen]

Well, it's a good thing that this was not a coordinated terrorist attack! Valley Deputy Chief Moore, and/or whoever was in charge of the command post and clearing out the Synagogue and surrounding neighbor hood (my neighborhood) should be relieved of their post for allowing the crime scene to be walked all over by anyone with a desire to do so. Further more, it's a darn good thing that this was not a Beslan Russia type attack, where the attackers waited for all the people to gather in one spot then punched off an explosive device. I mean do these politicians and LAPD management hacks not understand what this world is up against. Not to be an alarmist, but we might have escaped massive casualties this time, but what if this were a coordinated attack by a terrorist organization? Moore is demonstrably incompetent, hence the reason the suspect is still at large. Lock it down, that is about as basic as Joe Friday! How did this Moore guy surpass the other great candidates?
If this was run by Valley Deputy Chief Mike Moore, then I am more than unimpressed by his extremely ignorant understanding of world events, and ability to keep us safe in a post 9-11 world. Someone give this guy a clue about how to do basic police work. What needs to happen for our elected officials and police management to buy a vowel and solve the equation? Or at least not look like a bunch of circus clowns at a microphone stroking each others ego's while a criminal is on the loose.
Thank God this wasn't a more serious situation, and more people didn't get hurt. Now I hope the LAPD catches the people responsible for this crime.

[MrRogato]

How is this a Hate crime? Cuz they are jewish.. common.. religion is never a topic if its a christian gunned down by a non christian.. Discusts me the guy missed!

[Sanchez]

What is SAD is the FIRST person they "Claim" as a suspect is a BLACK citizen.

What is even more pathetic is that mayor acting as if this is some kind of SPECIAL incident when this city is FILLED with racists murders (especially with hispanic illegal aliens involved), and he is nowhere to be found...UNLESS it is to defend their pretend rights to be here.

It is sickening to see the pandering and race baiting that come out first thing this morning. "It was a BLACK MAN!"

Then turn around and grab the nearest BLACK citizen on the street.

[Anonymous]

It says above that comments are moderated. What do the moderators make of "MrRogato"'s comment: "Discusts me the guy missed!", not to mention the other vile anti-Semitic incitement. No wonder the LA Times is going out of business. You seem to be nothing more than a forum for racists.

[Tom]

Man, some of you people commenting here are ignorant a-holes.

No wonder we have so many problems in this world. Idiots like pitbullstew, A;ex, Jess, and Rogato are still allowed to breed.