San Diego synagogue shooting: Funeral to be held for victim

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Media captionThe fatal shooting happened at a synagogue in Poway, north of San Diego

A funeral will be held on Monday for the victim of an attack at a California synagogue which killed one woman and injured three others.

Lori Kaye, 60, died after throwing herself in front of the congregation’s rabbi when a gunman opened fire on a Passover service.

A 19-year-old man, named as John Earnest, was later arrested in Poway, north of San Diego.

Police have not yet suggested a motive for the attack.

Mrs Kaye had been attending Chabad of Poway on Saturday with her daughter and husband when the attack took place.

She was one of the synagogue’s founding members when it first opened its doors in 1986.

Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein was among those caught by the bullets, and lost his right index finger after he was shot in the hand.

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Media captionRabbi Yisroel Goldstein speaks to reporters about Saturday’s attack

“Everyone in the community knew her,” he told reporters.

“I’m just so heartbroken and saddened by the senseless killing”.

A friend, Audrey Jacobs, was one of several people to pay their respects to Mrs Kaye on social media.

Mr Earnest, the suspected gunman, is due to appear in court on Wednesday.

San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore told reporters that investigators were reviewing the suspect’s social media activity and examining a virulently anti-Semitic “open letter” published online.

The shooting came exactly six months after 11 people were killed during an attack at a Pittsburgh synagogue. It is thought to be the worst anti-Semitic attack in recent US history.

source: bbc.com