The Chicago Police Department is facing mounting criticism for not filing hate crime charges against a man accused of the attempted murder of a Jewish man, after he allegedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” when he opened fire.
Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi, 22, was charged with 14 felonies, after he allegedly shot the victim multiple times as he was heading to a synagogue in the Rogers Park area of the city on Saturday. The neighborhood is home to around 20,000 Jewish people.
“During the shooting, the offender approached a 39-year-old male and shot him in the shoulder without saying a word,” Superintendent Larry Snelling said at a news conference Monday.
Abdallahi also fired at responding officers and paramedics and was shot multiple times before he was arrested and taken to a hospital.
Some witnesses to the shooting claim that the suspect shouted “Allahu Akbar,” the Arabic phrase meaning “God is greater” as he fired his weapon at the victim’s back, according to local media reports. That has left communities leaders with questions as to why police had not filed more serious hate crime charges.
“Saturday’s shooting of an Orthodox community member walking to Shabbat services was the realization of the worse fear held by many, and that is not ok,” David Goldenberg, Midwest regional director for the Anti-Defamation League said Tuesday, adding that Chicago’s leaders needed to act now to help Jewish residents to feel safe.
A Chicago Police Department vehicle, June 6, 2024, in Chicago. The department has charged a man with 14 felonies after the shooting of a Jewish man in the city on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.
Aaron M. Sprecher via AP
Other community leaders have also voiced dismay that hate crime charges had not been filed.
“I am very disappointed by this turn of events and strongly encourage the Cook County State’s Attorney Office to prosecute the offender to the full extent of the law,” Debra L. Silverstein, Alderman for the 50th Ward, said in a press release.
“The police have assured me that they are continuing to gather evidence, and additional charges – including hate crime charges – can still be added.”
A spokesperson for Chicago PD pointed to comments made by the superintendent on Monday when asked about hate crime charges. Snelling had said that there was not enough evidence for such a charge.
Abdallahi was charged with six counts of attempted murder in the first degree, seven counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm towards a police office and one count of aggravated battery/discharge of a firearm.
There were reports that the suspect had illegally crossed in the U.S.-Mexico border around 18 months ago. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) told Newsweek that it had had no interaction with the suspect, while Chicago PD said it did not comment on such matters.
Saturday’s attack comes amid increased tensions across the U.S. as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues. Superintendent Snelling was asked on Monday about apparent harassment of a Palestinian business, and whether hate crime charges could be filed there, also.
“We are aware of what’s going on in the world right now. And we know how that can affect neighborhoods, communities, and people of faith,” he said. “It’s not lost on us that there’s hate paraphernalia that’s being passed around.”
Jewish leaders said at a press conference Tuesday that Chicago had become “openly hostile” towards their community, and that Saturday’s shooting was part of a wider wave of antisemitism they were facing day in, day out.
Abdallahi was due to appear in court for a detention hearing Tuesday.
