A Florida man was arrested last week on charges of threatening to carry out a mass shooting attack at the Chabad Lubavitch of Southwest Florida in Fort Meyers.
Sheriff Carmine Marceno of the Lee County Sherrif’s office said on Thursday at a press conference that the suspect, identified as Alfredo Sanchez, 43, was a member of the synagogue.
Rabbi Yitzchok Minkowicz, the Chabad center’s director confirmed the sheriff’s report, saying that Sanchez and his family were regulars at the Chabad center, Collive reported.
Marceno said that his office received a tip from “a concerned temple member regarding a threat made against a synagogue in Fort Myers.”
“Sanchez made at least one statement indicating that he had the ability and the means to carry out a shooting at the synagogue,” Marceno continued. “It was also reported that Sanchez offered to sell a firearm to a synagogue member.”
“He comes to the synagogue, prays, he studies, he volunteers, he helps out – so yes absolutely it was a surprise,” Rabbi Mincowicz said. “We had no inkling of any of this stuff.”
After obtaining an arrest warrant, Lee County officers searched Sanchez’s home and found ammunition, gun cases and gun cleaning accessories. Upon further investigation, police investigators found a duffel bag believed to belong to Sanchez with four firearms, including an AK47 style rifle at a relative’s home.
Sanchez was a convicted felon who has been arrested nine times in the past and was sentenced to prison for firearms charges. He was first arrested in 1996 for prostitution and lewd behavior.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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12 Responses
Whoa…
Was “Alfredo Sanchez” converting/converted? If so, it sounds like the officiating rabbi did not do his proper diligence in looking into Alfredo’s background. This story gives the impression he is mentally unstable.
nice to see the news is on top of things but I thing sometimes you go to far…..
i guess chabad does not do background checks?
This is “Liberal” justice. As far as Chabad “kiruv”, in today’s crazy atmosphere. it is prudent to be extra cautious about “who” we let in to our communal places. You see that he had run-ins with the law why don’t you vet a newcomer member”want-to-be”? It is better safe than sorry!
Is he ev3n jewish?
?ואס פאר א אידישע נאמען איז סאנטשעז
Weird story.
IS HE JEWISH?
We have to start vetting attendees to every shul, asking for references etc to weed out paedophiles and other unwanted criminal past. We have a responsibility to protect ourselves and our children.
Bs”d How did Chabad let in someone who seems obviously not Jewish? Do they allow mixed couples in to the shul? Please can Chabad explain?
Everyone seems to be forgetting that Chabad is a mamoth organization operating 5,000 centers in 100 countries across the globe. Obviously, such occurrences like this will happen once in a while. I’ts incredible that this has only happened once. One cannot be able to assume something based off of such a vague story. Perhaps he arrived under a false identity. What kind of question is this “does Chabad do background checks”. Nobody just signs up to Chabad, after which they are screened for criminal records. we accept them into our community simply because “כל ישראל בחזקת כשרות” and Chabad accepts everyone. You don’t even need to sign up. There is no such thing having a “membership”.