Man charged with terrorism and hate crimes for shooting Jewish man on his way to synagogue in Chicago, police say

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A man is facing terrorism and hate crime charges after authorities say he shot a Jewish man walking to a synagogue and then fired at responding officers during a weekend shooting in Chicago.

Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi, 22, was charged with one felony count of terrorism and one felony count of hate crime, the Chicago Police Department superintendent said Larry Snelling said at a news conference Thursday.

It is unclear whether Abdallahi has a lawyer.

Abdallahi is accused of firing several shots at a 39-year-old man on the city's north side Saturday morning before firing “several times from different locations at the responding officers and paramedics,” police said. Officers returned fire and struck the gunman, Chicago police said in a news release Monday. No police or firefighters were injured, but Abdallahi remains hospitalized.

Investigators were unable to interview the suspect because of his injuries, Snelling said. Investigators were reviewing digital evidence to crack a case, including evidence from his phone, that suggested he targeted people of the Jewish faith, the superintendent said, without elaborating.

There is evidence that Abdallahi worked alone, Snelling said, adding that officials don't want residents to live in fear “that there is a network of people out there engaged in this activity.”

Abdallahi also faces six counts of attempted first-degree murder, seven counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm and one count of aggravated assault with a firearm, the release said. His next court date is scheduled for November 7th.

Snelling said it was important for authorities to fully investigate the incident to determine whether the new charges were appropriate, emphasizing that they did not secure the new charges because of public pressure or media attention.

“There must be sufficient evidence to support allegations of hate crimes and terrorism, and it was important that we took the time to conduct thorough investigations and confirm that this was indeed a crime of this nature,” Snelling said. “We will never go public, make statements, make allegations or attempt to press charges without having evidence of what we want to incriminate someone for.”

Mayor Brandon Johnson said there is no place for hate in Chicago, calling hatred against the Jewish community “vile” and “vicious.”

“This is not just an attack on our beloved Jewish community, it was an attack on us as a city,” Johnson said. “Anti-Semitism in Chicago does not reflect the soul of Chicago. And everyone in our city deserves to feel safe, and no one in our city should be attacked because of their faith, religion or identity.”

Johnson echoed Snelling's comments about residents' sense of security. “The Jewish community can be assured that we will use all aspects of government to ensure their safety,” the mayor said.

Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx acknowledged that it is rare to bring terrorism charges and that the charges against Abdallahi underscore the seriousness of the crime.

“This indictment sends a clear message: All actions intended to destabilize our communities through fear and hate will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Foxx said. “The efforts to take part in this crime were not a spontaneous act, they were not just for excitement at the time, but to spread terror.”

In a statement released on X-Thursday, the Midwest arm of the Anti-Defamation League said “the charges appropriately reflect the nature of the shooting.”

“We must all focus our attention on supporting the victim and the Jewish community of West Rogers Park as they recover from this heinous act,” the statement said.

Abdallahi is a Mauritanian citizen who was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol in San Ysidro, California, on March 31, 2023, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a statement on Thursday.

ICE “placed an immigration detainee in the Cook County Jail” on Tuesday following Abdallahi’s arrest, agency spokeswoman Erin Bultje said in the statement. ICE would not provide further information about Abdallahi's immigration status.

The shooting victim was released from the hospital Saturday afternoon, according to Debra Silverstein, councilwoman for Chicago's 50th Ward, where the shooting occurred.

“Thankfully this victim did not suffer any life-threatening injuries. We know this is something he will have to deal with for the rest of his life,” Snelling said.

This story has been updated with additional information.