CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The only Jewish member of Chicago’s city council said she’s disappointed that prosecutors have not filed hate crime charges against a man who police say shot and wounded a person who was walking to a Far North Side synagogue — and then fired on first responders.
Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling, though, left the door open for more charges over Saturday’s shooting and said the department has already stepped up patrols in the area.
The shooting happened Saturday at about 9:30 a.m., which is when police say 22-year-old Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi walked up to a 39-year-old man and shot him in the shoulder. Snelling said Abdallahi fired at officers and first responders as they arrived on scene. He struck an ambulance, but no first responders were hurt. Snelling said officers fired back and struck Abdallahi.
The superintendent said officers provided first aid for Abdallahi, who was taken to a local hospital, where he has remained since the shooting.
“Though this offender has been charged in this shooting, we are continuing to investigate the motive,” he said. “At this point, detectives have been unable to interview the offender because of his injuries.”
Abdallahi is now facing six counts of attempted first-degree murder, seven counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm toward a police officer or firefighter, and one count of aggravated battery.
He has yet to be charged with a hate crime. Local Ald. Debra Silverstein (50th) said she hopes that will change.
“We are a community proud of our diversity, tolerance and respect for all faiths,” she said. “Acts of violence against anyone, especially those that appear to target religious identity are deeply unsettling and must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
Silverstein told reporters that she attends the same synagogue as the shooting victim, who she said was doing OK.
Abdallahi is expected to make his first appearance in court on Tuesday.
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