By Emily Drooby
The FBI announced they are investigating a Dec. 10 shootout in Jersey City, N.J. as a domestic terrorist attack with a hate crime bias slant specifically against both Jewish people and police officers.
During a Dec. 12 press briefing, officials released new details about the two suspects: David Anderson and Francine Graham. They can be seen in video footage leaving their U-Haul, both armed when they entered the kosher supermarket.
Officials also say after killing three inside and injuring one, they appeared to be directly targeting law enforcement.
Officials also confirmed both suspects had at one point expressed interest in the Black Hebrew Israelite movement, a designated hate group with no connection to mainstream Judaism.
However, they still believe the suspects acted on their own. Officials are staying tight-lipped on what was in the letter found in the U-Haul, but claim there was no manifesto to be found.
Officials are also refusing to comment on if the suspects had additional targets.
“They had a tremendous amount of firepower. They had a pipe bomb in the van,” said New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal. “But for the actions of chief kelly and his officers, they could have done more.”
Now attention has been turned towards keeping the Jewish communities in Jersey City, as well as in New York and New Jersey, safe.
“We will root out hate, we will not allow it to grow here,” said New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. “You will see an increased presence from the NYPD throughout the Jewish community — you will see the actions of our hate crimes task force.”
On Dec. 11, members of the Jewish community in Jersey City gathered at Temple Bethel to mourn the loss and pray for the end of hate.
Jersey City is known as a diverse and welcoming city. Their mayor, Steven Fulop, has been shocked to see this kind of hate here.
“This is the golden door to America. This is the most diverse county in America, and it speaks to the fact that if it can happen here, it can happen anywhere,” he said. “That’s why we have to be extra conscious of it, and vocal about it and stomp it out once it rears its ugly head.”
The street was packed as victim Mosha Deutch’s coffin was carried through the street for his funeral. The 24-year-old lived in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
The shooting also claimed the life of “Mindy” Ferencz, a co-owner of the supermarket and a mother of three young children, Miguel Rodriguez, an Ecuadorian immigrant who worked at the store. and Jersey City veteran Detective Joseph Seals, who was shot at a nearby cemetery before the supermarket shooting began.
On Dec. 11 his fellow officers paid tribute to the hero as they moved his body. He was also a father of five.
More than 48 hours out from this devastating attack, many questions are still unanswered —
especially what triggered the carnage.
Officials say they’re still combing through evidence including social media accounts in the hopes of figuring it out.