Funeral held for woman killed in Calif. synagogue shooting

April 29, 2019

A funeral service was held Monday for the woman killed when a gunman opened fire at a synagogue in southern California Saturday. Mourners packed the Chabad of Poway synagogue to honor the memory of Lori Gilbert-Kaye. The crowd included Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, who was wounded in the shooting, and others who lived through the terror.

On Monday, the FBI acknowledged at least one tip came in about five minutes before the attack about a threatening post on social media. But there were no specifics on who or where. The FBI said the shooting occurred before they could identify a suspect.

It’s still unknown what motivated the alleged gunman,19-year-old John Earnest, to enter the synagogue armed with an assault rifle and plans for a massacre, but he is being charged with a hate crime. The suspect’s family released a statement, reading in part: “How our son was attracted to such darkness is a terrifying mystery to us… Our heavy hearts will forever go out to the victims and survivors.”

“I was centimeters away from being shot from this monster, from this terrorist, this deranged, sick, hateful person. There is no redemption for this,” said Rabbi Goldstein.

8-year-old injured in Poway synagogue shooting: “It was very, very scary”

The attack could have been far worse were it not for heroes like Oscar Stewart, a military veteran who served in Iraq.

“I heard someone yell, ‘Run! Get out!’ I stopped midway, mid-step, turned around and went towards the gunfire. I yelled at him as loud as I could, he dropped his weapon and I gave chase. They say I saved lives. I don’t know if I saved any lives, I just did what I did,” Stewart said.

Then there was the face of courage and defiance in the youngest victim, 8-year-old Noya Dahan, who was struck in her face and leg by shrapnel.

“You don’t have to go through it, any age, any time, because you’re supposed to live life, you’re not supposed to live hate,” she said.

Since the attack, there’s been an outpouring of support from the community. One moment captured it perfectly, when Poway’s mayor approached Rabbi Goldstein, and said the only words that needed to be said: “We love you.”