Terrorism, Hate Crime Charges Filed Over Shooting Of Jewish Man In West Rogers Park

CHICAGO — Prosecutors filed hate crime and terrorism charges against a man accused of trying to kill a West Ridge resident walking to synagogue before shooting at police and paramedics who responded to the scene.

Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi, 22, was shot multiple times by officers dispatched to the aftermath of Saturday's apparently antisemitic attack. He was initially charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery and aggravated discharge of a firearm.

As of Thursday, Abdallahi remains hospitalized and has not yet appeared in court or spoken with investigators, but information on his phone proves that he targeted the Jewish community, police said.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Police Superintendent Larry Snelling, Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx and 50th Ward Ald. Deb Silverstein announced the charges at a news conference on Thursday afternoon.

Video of the shooting that appears to show the gunman shouting "Allahu Akbar" and his targeting of a visibly Orthodox person on Sabbath led to immediate calls for hate crime charges, and the mayor's omission of the victim's religious identity from an initial statement about the shooting prompted criticism. Johnson was asked why his initial statement left out the victim's identity.

"I'm appalled and sickened by the wicked behavior that came from this individual, and as someone that comes to this job with a deep sense of faith and moral clarity, my stance and my position is lived out every day in this job," Johnson said.

The mayor said terrorism incites and ignites by making people feel isolated and alone.

"Well, the Jewish community is not alone. We're standing firm with our Jewish siblings, as I always have. I will continue to live out my values and principles to ensure that everyone in this city knows that they are seen and heard and valued and particularly our Jewish community right now that is feeling a great deal of anxiety, and trepidation and fear," Johnson said.

"Our words are not as powerful as my actions, and our actions are clear," he said. "Charges have been brought, the full force of government is on display and the Jewish community can be assured that we're using every aspect of government to ensure that they are safe."

Foxx said prosecutors would lay out the evidence to support the charges at Abdallahi's initial court appearance, which is scheduled for Thursday should he be out of the hospital.

In Illinois criminal law, terrorism is defined as an act of violence or vandalism that is intended to "intimidate or coerce a significant portion of a civilian population." Foxx, who is heading into her final month on the job, said the evidence proves that is what Abdallahi wanted to do.

"Based on the information contained from that digital evidence, we were able to determine that this individual plotted on this particular community, sought out this particular community, sought out this particular faith, that the efforts to engage in this crime were not spur of the moment, they were not simply to rattle at the time, but to inflict terror," Foxx said.

Snelling praised the officers who exchanged gunfire with Abdallahi as he darted out of alleys and shot at police and fire department personnel.

"They put their lives on the line for this community to make sure that the community is safe, the same thing that our officers do out there on a daily basis," Snelling told reporters at Thursday's news conference.

The police superintendent said the department was not swayed in whether or not to recommend hate crime charges by public pressure and media attention. He said police must act in a timely fashion, even as gathering the facts takes time.

"The responsibility that we have in law enforcement is we will never go out in public, make statements, allegations, accusations or attempt to bring charges without any proof of what we're attempting to charge someone for," he said.

Authorities did not comment on reports that Abdallahi was a Mauritanian citizen and that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had issued a detainer against him, indicating ICE officials believe he may be removable.

An ICE spokesperson told Patch that Abdallahi had been "encountered by U.S. Border Patrol on March 31, 2023, near San Ysidro, California."

Johnson assured the public that antisemitism would not be tolerated in Chicago. Since becoming mayor last year, he faced criticism from some Jewish groups for his tiebreaking vote in favor of a City Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict and his handling of the meeting.

And earlier Thursday, Johnson's pick to be board president overseeing Chicago Public Schools, Rev. Mitchell Johnson, resigned after facing widespread pressure in response to the revelation of his social media posts in support of Hamas, 911 conspiracy theories and an anti-feminist worldview.

“My Jewish colleagues appear drunk with the Israeli power and will live to see their payment," the reverend said in one of the posts.

"I had a conversation with him, and asked him to resign, and he did," the mayor said.

Johnson said he wanted every child to feel protected and loved and to ensure that Chicago Public Schools are fully funded.

"Look," he said, "the egregious attacks that have caused the unraveling of stability in the particular region where Israel is a strong ally with our country — we have to ensure, the city of Chicago, that we live out the value system that we want to see around the world, and that's what my leadership reflects in this moment."

Earlier: Gunman Shoots Jewish Man, Fires At Police As He Shouts 'Allahu Akbar'; Hate Crime Probed