The Latest: Witness describes California synagogue attack
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Latest on a preliminary hearing for a 20-year-old man charged with opening fire on a Southern California synagogue, killing a woman and injuring three other people (all times local):
11:25 a.m.
A witness in a San Diego court hearing has described hearing gunfire in a synagogue and moving toward the gunman while screaming to try to rattle the shooter.
Oscar Stewart, a combat veteran of Iraq and the First Gulf War, testified Thursday at a preliminary hearing for 20-year-old John T. Earnest. He is charged with killing a woman and wounding three people
A woman was killed and three other people were wounded in the attack.
Stewart says he yelled for people to get down and get out, then saw Earnest firing in the lobby.
The witness says he looked straight at the rifle and walked toward the gunman, screaming that he was going to kill him.
Stewart says Earnest struggled to reload, dropped the rifle and fled.
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9:55 a.m.
A preliminary hearing has begun in the case of a 20-year-old man accused of opening fire in a Southern California synagogue in April, killing a woman and injuring three other people.
Defendant John T. Earnest entered San Diego Superior Court in blue jail garb Thursday and sat next to his public defender.
Earnest has pleaded not guilty to murder, attempted murder and an arson count tied to a separate mosque fire. The hearing will determine whether the case goes to trial.
The shooting occurred at the Chabad of Poway synagogue on the last Day of Passover.
Court documents say the college student called 911 as he fled, saying, "I just shot up a synagogue," and that he did it because he believed Jews were destroying "the white race."
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9:15 p.m.
Prosecutors will have a recording of a 20-year-old's call to an emergency dispatcher and his online posts when they try to convince a judge that he should be put on trial for opening fire in a Southern California synagogue, killing one woman and injuring three people.
A preliminary hearing for John T. Earnest begins Thursday in state court in San Diego.
Earnest has pleaded not guilty to murder, attempted murder and arson tied to a mosque fire. The murder charge would make him eligible for the death penalty if convicted.
Court documents say the college student called 911 as he fled Chabad of Poway on April 27, saying, "I just shot up a synagogue," and that he did it because he believed Jews were destroying "the white race."
