10:07PM EST: [UPDATED BELOW] A massive police response has sealed off parts of the Miami Beach Jewish community in search of an armed gunman on the loose.
Sources confirm to YWN that police officers from Miami Beach, City of Miami, and Miami Dade County have established a perimeter from Prarie Avenue & Chase Avenue – and 37th Street until 40th Street.
Included in the affected area is Congregation Beth Israel, and the Miami Beach Community Kollel. One person currently inside the Kollel tells YWN that police officers are not allowing anyone to exit the building.
A chopper is currently hovering over the 3700 block of Chase Avenue, and multiple K9 units are walking the streets.
Further details will be posted as soon as they become available to us.
UPDATE 10:20PM EST: Police have just arrested the suspect (armed with a weapon) in the yard of 3701 Chase Avenue.
Upon giving the ‘all-clear’ to the neighborhood, at least 30 people were witnessed exiting the Miami Beach Community Kollel – along with their Rosh Kollel, Rabbi Yaakov Gross Shlita.
Boruch Hashem, there was no one injured, and although the motive of the suspect has not been confirmed, sources tell YWN that it seems to be crime related.
UDATATED 11:30PM EST: The Lakewood Rosh Hayeshiva Rav Malkiel Kotler and Mashgiach Rav Matisyahu Salomon together with dozens of people coming to learn in the Kollel were locked out of the kollel. Some of the members of Rav Gross’s Daf Yomi Shiur were also locked out and heard the shiur via cell phone while waiting for the street to open. Marriv was held on the corner.
The Rosh Hayeshiva and Mashgiach are currently in Miami for the annual Beth Medrash Gavhoa’s parlor meeting held on Wednesday night.
[NOTE: Rav Malkiel Kotler will be speaking at the Kollel’s Seudas Shlishis in Congregation Beth Israel’s social hall.]
(David Goldwasser / YWN-FL18 / YWN-FL113)
13 Responses
Oy Vey. My sister is there now, i hpe she is safe.
Excellent, timely reporting.
You guys have LES clearance, by any chance??
oy vey. boruch hashem your sister is safe. Dont even worry if anyone got hurt or 100 people might have got killed, your sister is safe !!
Sorrt, buy I love selfish people.
“sources tell YWN that it seems to be crime related”
Wow – you must have some really knowledgeable sources!
crime related and not terrorism! not antisemitism!
RAV MALKIEL KOTLER SHLIT”A WILL ALSO BE SPEAKING AT K”HAL AHAVAS TORAH (R’ NEUHAUS’ SHUL) FRIDAY NIGHT BEFORE MA’ARIV
YeshivaRodefKesef,
Your Nosei B’Ol with YCB’s (B”H short-lived) anxiety for his sister is also very inspiring.
I dont think the lakewood Rosh Yeshiva Would mind
being locked in the kollel for a few more days he could use a break !!
Anonymous 12.22
I was Nosei B’Ol with EVERYONE out there, INCLUDING his sister.
Thats the difference between me and you.
Anyway, Im glad to hear that I was able to inspire you and teach you the meaning of Nosei B’ol.
YeshivaRodefKesef,
How heartwarming. Your empathy to one and all came through strongly. Keep on shteiging.
response to #1
Aren’t your brothers there too?
Acheinu Kol Beis Yisroel!
Boruch HaShem they’re all safe!
although the motive of the suspect has not been confirmed, sources tell YWN that it seems to be crime related.
CRIME RELATED, you buy that (got a bridge for sale at a cheap price also) — anti-Jewish, anti-Israel, Muslim-Jewish related is my bet. Most criminals do not hold up a shul and kollel to steal the big bucks..
Stan the Man (#13):
You misread. There was a lockdown of the neighborhhod that included the Kollel and a shul (Beth Israel) to catch an armed criminal on the loose. The Kollel was NOT HELD UP!
Why assume that the criminal was committing a hate-crime?