Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop announced on Twitter that based on video footage, it appears the suspects behind the December 10 shooting were targeting JC Kosher Supermarket.
Fulop tweeted, “Last night, after extensive review of our CCTV system, it has now become clear from the cameras that these two individuals targeted the kosher grocery location on [Martin Luther King Jr. Drive].”
Last night after extensive review of our CCTV system it has now become clear from the cameras that these two individuals targeted the Kosher grocery location on MLK Dr – the 2 JCPD officers that were on a foot post one block away immediately responded/engaged
— Steven Fulop (@StevenFulop) December 11, 2019
and prevented the perpetrators from leaving that location and harming any further civilians. At this time we have no credible further threats from this incident but out of an abundance of caution we will be increasing our police presence in the community.
— Steven Fulop (@StevenFulop) December 11, 2019
The AG’s office and HCPO will handle the formal investigation.
— Steven Fulop (@StevenFulop) December 11, 2019
According to The New York Times, the shooting initially began at the Bay View Cemetery, where a police officer was shot and killed. The shooters eventually moved toward the Jersey City kosher supermarket, killing three people. Two of the victims were Hasidic Jews: 33-year-old Mindel Ferencz, the wife of the market’s owner, and 24-year-old rabbinical student Moshe Deutsch.
Both the Times and NBC News are reporting the shooting suspects – both of whom died at the scene – have been identified as David Anderson, 47, and Francine Graham, 50. Anderson is believed to have been connected to the Black Hebrew Israelites – which the Southern Poverty Law Center describes as a militant hate movement – and had anti-Semitic social media posts.
Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted, “New information indicates the shooting at the kosher market was a targeted attack. We must never forget the victims. We need to stand together as a community.”
https://twitter.com/JGreenblattADL/status/1204780974288052224
The American Jewish Committee similarly tweeted, “We are horrified by the murders in Jersey City and are deeply distressed by reports the attackers may have targeted the Jewish community. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. We are heartened by the swift response by law enforcement and NJ officials.”
We are horrified by the murders in Jersey City and are deeply distressed by reports the attackers may have targeted the Jewish community. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. We are heartened by the swift response by law enforcement and NJ officials.
— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) December 11, 2019
The Simon Wiesenthal Center tweeted, “One of the shooters was an #antisemite. We expect that authorities including FBI will provide answers and take steps to protect the #Jewish community from further harm.”
It is clear that one of the shooters was an #antisemite. We expect that authorities including FBI will provide answers and take steps to protect the #Jewish community from further harm. #jerseycityshooting https://t.co/imzWGPt5Vi
— SimonWiesenthalCntr (@simonwiesenthal) December 11, 2019
