The shooter who opened fire in a California synagogue two years ago has been sentenced to life in prison.
John T. Earnest agreed to a plea deal in July that prevented him from facing the death penalty. On Thursday, he was formally given life in prison with an additional 121 years to life and another 16 years. The sentence brings a close to a tragedy that shook the Jewish community.
On April 27th, 2019, Earnest, who was 19-years-old at the time, entered Chabad of Poway, a synagogue near San Diego, armed with a legally purchased AR-15 style rifle loaded with ten bullets and 50 more on his vest. He opened fire on the over four dozen worshippers, killing 60-year-old Lori Gilbert Kaye, and injuring three others, including Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein and an 8-year-old girl. Shortly after the shooting, he called authorities and admitted to the hate-filled attack.
“I’m defending our nation against the Jewish people, who are trying to destroy all white people,” Earnest reportedly stated.
During Thursday’s hearing, victims and their families spoke of the horror caused during that fateful day. Hannah Kaye, the daughter of Lori Gilbert Kaye, addressed Earnest and described her mother’s final moments.
“I felt my mother die,” she said. “I died with my mother in spirit, watching my father try to revive my mother and fail not only as her husband but as a doctor of 40 plus years.”
Earnest’s request to make a statement was denied by Judge Peter Deddeh, who told the 22-year-old that he would not allow him to “add to his celebrity” by making a potentially hateful statement in court.
Shortly before the shooting at Poway took place, Earnest posted an open letter online that spoke of his plans to carry out the attack based on his anti-Semitic and white nationalist views.
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