Prosecutors began presenting evidence Thursday against the maniac who opened fire on a California synagogue in April.
John T. Earnest, 20, allegedly carried out the fatal shooting at Chabad of Poway near San Diego during a morning Passover service on April 27.
The attack killed Lori Gilbert-Kaye, 60, and wounded a man, his 8-year-old niece and the rabbi — who consoled his congregation despite getting shot.
Earnest appeared before a judge for a preliminary hearing to determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence to take the case to trial.
The preliminary hearing was initially set for Aug. 19 but was delayed by San Diego Superior Court Judge Michael Smyth despite a prosecutor’s objections, the San Diego Union Tribune reported. The hearing, as well as future hearings and a possible trial, were assigned to Judge Peter Deddeh.
Earnest had pled not guilty to murder on May 28. He showed no facial expressions before the court on Thursday while listening to medical examiner Steven Campman’s testimony about the autopsy of Gilbert-Kaye.
Prosecutors have a recording of Earnest’s 911 call as he fled the scene, among other evidence.
“I just shot up a synagogue,” Earnest reportedly said in the recording, “… because Jewish people are destroying the white race.”
Prosecutors could seek the death penalty for the murder charge, classified as a hate crime.
Yisroel Goldstein, Rabbi of Chabad of Poway, speaks at the funeral for Lori Gilbert-Kaye, who was killed in the synagogue shooting.APThe New Zealand mosque-shooting madman inspired Earnest, according to his manifesto. Earnest also allegedly graffitied Brenton Tarrant’s name outside the mosque, according to court documents.
“I’ve only read a little but so far he’s spot on with everything,” Earnest whined by text to someone on March 19, whose name was redacted from the documents. Earnest was upset none of the links he tried to access to livestream Tarrant’s massacre were working.
Earnest legally bought an AR-15 style rifle made by Smith & Wesson the day before the rampage, according to federal charges, and frequently posted violently extremist views online.
“As an individual, I can only kill so many Jews,” he posted.
The Post previously reported exclusively that the horror could have been even worse if Earnest had arrived moments later when Chabad’s lobby was full of kids.
Earnest also is charged with arson for starting a fire at an Escondido mosque in March.
With Associated Press
