Suspect charged with hate crime after shooting Jewish victim in West Ridge: officials
CHICAGO - A 22-year-old man is facing terrorism and hate crime charges after he allegedly shot a Jewish man who was walking to synagogue and fired multiple rounds at police officers in West Ridge last weekend.
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling, Mayor Brandon Johnson, Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx, and others provided an update on the case Thursday afternoon.
"This shooting is deeply personal to members of our Jewish community, we know that, but this shooting should be personal to everyone across the city," said Supt. Larry Snelling with the Chicago Police Department.
The suspect, Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi, remains hospitalized for injuries sustained in the incident, which occurred around 9:35 a.m. last Saturday near the 6800 block of North Washtenaw Avenue.
Pictured is Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi, 22.
Police said Abdallahi approached the victim, a 39-year-old man, from behind as he walked to a synagogue and shot him. The victim, who was struck in the shoulder, was hospitalized and later released.
When medics responded to render aid to the victim, however, Abdallahi allegedly returned to the scene of the crime and fired multiple shots at first responders from various locations.
No officers or paramedics were injured, though an ambulance was struck. Police returned fire, critically injuring Abdallahi.
"They put their lives on the line for this community, to make sure this community was safe, and stopped him from taking lives," said Snelling.
Abdallahi was arrested about 30 minutes after the initial shooting.
"Since the shooting occurred, our investigative response team has worked their fingers to the bone to determine a motive," said Snelling.
Due to his injuries, police couldn’t interview Abdallahi, but announced Thursday that they did find a digital trail.
"Evidence from the offender’s phone indicated he planned this shooting and specifically targeted people of Jewish faith," said Snelling.
Foxx said the evidence uncovered during the investigation was enough to support hate crime and terrorism charges.
"Based on information contained from that digital evidence, we were able to determine that this individual plotted on this particular community, sought out this particular community, sought out this particular faith, that the efforts to engage in this crime were not spur of the moment. They were not simply to rattle at the time, but to inflict terror," Foxx said.
With the additional charges filed Thursday, Abdallahi now faces one count of terrorism, one count of a hate crime, six counts of attempted first-degree murder, seven counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm at a police officer or firefighter, and one count of aggravated battery with a firearm, according to authorities.
"There's absolutely no place in Chicago for antisemitism. There's no place in our city for hatred directed toward our Jewish community. Now that the charges have been issued, I can speak in more specificity on the attack that took place that was clearly motivated by hatred. Hatred towards our Jewish community," Mayor Johnson said. "It is not only hideous, it is wicked. And as a leader of this city, as a husband and a father, it grieves me and it breaks my heart knowing that our Jewish community doesn't feel safe and secure in our beloved city. Just as I want for my family, I want for the families of our Jewish community."
Officials, on Thursday, stood united and shared the message that hate will not be tolerated, and will be brought to the fullest extent of justice.
"I do just want to say one thing about the Jewish community. We are a strong, united, resilient community and we will remain that way," said Ald. Debra Silverstein, 50th Ward.
The American Jewish Committee Chicago released a statement on the newly-announced charges:
"Since Saturday, Chicago's Jewish community has been seeking reassurance that authorities were investigating this attack as a hate crime because we were deeply concerned that a member of our community was violently targeted. With that said, we continue to urge a thorough investigation so that justice can be served."
FOX 32 Chicago is looking into information that this suspect is not originally from the United States, but instead came from West Africa within the last two years. We have reached out to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and are awaiting confirmation.
Abdallahi was due in court on Tuesday but could not appear due to his hospitalization.
Foxx said his next court date is scheduled for Nov. 7, but it may be postponed depending on the suspect's medical condition.
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