A Jewish leader has died after a suspect opened fire inside a San Diego Saturday synagogue on Saturday morning. She’s now being hailed a hero.
Lori Gilbert Kaye, 60, of Poway, California, dove in front of a suspected gunman as he fired shots at worshippers at the Chabad of Poway Synagogue. While Kaye took a fatal shot, she saved the life of Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, 57, who was hit in the hands by bullets.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the rabbi continued with his sermon after being hit in both index fingers, urging the worshippers to stay strong.
Audrey Jacobs, a friend of Kaye’s, posted on Facebook that the woman was”taking bullets” for Rabbi Goldstein. Jacobs wrote Kaye was known for doing good deeds.
“Your final good deed was taking the bullets for Rabbi Mendel Goldstein to save his life. Lori leaves behind a devastated husband and a 22-year-old daughter.”
Today at synagogue an anti-Semitic murderer shot and killed my friend Lori Gilbert Kaye z”l, age 60. Lori you were a…
Posted by Audrey Jacobs on Saturday, April 27, 2019
Dr. Ronit Lev told the Jewish Press that the rabbi credited Kaye for saving his life. She’s now considered a “Jewish hero.”
“Our rabbi, Yisroel Goldstein, who was taken to the emergency room, told everyone that she saved his life because she stood in front of him….Lori Gilbert Kaye z’l is a Jewish hero, and will be remembered as a hero in Jewish history. She sacrificed her own life, throwing herself in the path of the murderer’s bullets to save the life of the Rabbi.”
JUST IN: Sheriff confirms John Earnest, 19, is the the suspect accused of killing a woman and wounding 3 others in a shooting at the Chabad of Poway in California. Earnest is a self-proclaimed white supremacist. pic.twitter.com/WMBVYPDyw2
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) April 28, 2019
As CrimeOnline previously reported, authorities arrested a 19-year-old suspect, identified as John Earnest. He accused of opening fire in the synagogue with a “an AR-type weapon,” killing Kaye and injuring several others, including an 8-year-old girl.
Earnest, who has been detained by authorities, was a Cal State University San Marcos student who allegedly posted a “manifesto” online around the time of the attacks. Officials are currently working to determine the authenticity of the post, according to USA Today.
The story continues to develop. Check back with CrimeOnline as additional details become available.
[Feature Photo: Lori Gilbert Kaye/Facebook]
