Jewish community calls for hate crime charges after man shot walking to synagogue on North Side

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The detention hearing for the man accused of shooting a Jewish man in West Rogers Park over the weekend was rescheduled Tuesday, as the Jewish community calls for more charges.

Sidi Mohammed Abdullahi, 22, was expected in court Tuesday, but the hearing was rescheduled to next week because he is still recovering in the intensive care unit after a shootout with police.

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The sound of gunfire echoed through West Rogers Park Saturday. The gun battle with police was caught on home security video.

The video of the shootout shows the alleged gunman brazenly advancing toward at least five officers while firing at them. Police then back away from the gunfire before one officer takes cover behind a porch.

ABC7 has frozen the video as the suspect turns the corner and is shot multiple times by police, gun still in his hand.

Leaders of the Jewish community said the violence was targeted.

"We have faith in God, but we are scared for us; this shooting a few days ago was not just another act of violence," said Rabbi Levi Mostofsky, executive director of the Chicago Rabbinical Council. "It wasn't just another shooting on the streets of Chicago. When a visibly Jewish individual in an otherwise pleasant neighborhood is shot unprovoked on his way to synagogue, we are terrorized."

Abdullahi allegedly shot a Jewish man walking to synagogue Saturday morning, while wearing a kippah, a traditional Jewish head covering.

Police say Abdullahi shot him without saying a word.

Roughly 30 minutes later, the incident escalated, when Abdullahi reportedly opened fire on five first responders.

Police fired back, shooting him multiple times.

"We urge, in the strongest terms possible, that CPD and others conduct a thorough investigation into the motives of these heinous crimes, and that charges be added as appropriate," said David Goldenberg, Midwest regional Anti-Defamation League director.

Abdullahi has been charged with 14 felony counts, including attempted first-degree murder. Goldenberg is calling for a hate crime charge to be added to the list.

"Saturday's crime feels like a hate crime. Regardless of where the investigation lands, Chicago's Jewish community has been rocked. And Saturday's shooting is just the latest," Goldenberg said. "The reason CPD knows the Jewish community so well is because it has to know the Jewish community because of the elevated threat that the Jewish community faces, day in and day out."

FBI data from 2023 show despite Jewish people comprising only about 2% of the U.S. population, antisemitic incidents accounted for over 15% of all hate crimes across the nation.

The ADL said there has been a near 300% increase in antisemitic incidents in Chicago over the last year, compared to the year before.

It's adding to the growing fear felt by families in the Jewish faith.

"We have been watching closely. Antisemitic attacks proliferate around the world, and we are scared," Mostofsky said.

Local Jewish organizations said they've been in regular communication with the Chicago Police Department, since Saturday's shooting.

While they are eager for hate crime charges to be brought against the suspect, police said the investigation into a motive is still ongoing.

So, community members are calling on Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to take action.

"You don't see the mayor saying something; you see someone from the administration saying something, zip, zero, zilch from him," Goldenberg said.

Abdullahi is now scheduled to be in court Nov. 7.

Johnson's office said in a statement Tuesday, "Mayor Johnson's heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the victim and his loved ones from this weekend's shooting incident that took place in Rogers Park. This tragic event should have never happened, and we recognize the dedication of our first responders who put their lives on the line during this shooting. The Mayor's Office is in close communication with the Chicago Police Department as the investigation continues. All Chicagoans deserve to feel safe and protected across the city. There is more work to be done, and we are committed to diligently improving community safety in every neighborhood."

Gov. JB Pritzker said he is "deeply troubled" by the shooting of the Orthodox Jewish man.

Pritzker said the "motivation of the shooter deserves a complete and through examination to determine if this should additionally be charged as a hate crime."

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