SEATTLE – A man walked into a Jewish organization Friday afternoon and opened fire, killing one person and injuring at least five others before he was arrested, officials said.
The gunman, who employees said claimed to be a Muslim angry at Israel, forced his way through the security door at the Jewish Federation after an employee had punched in her security code, said Marla Meislin-Dietrich, a co-worker who was not at the building at the time.
Staff members said they overheard him saying “’I am a Muslim American, angry at Israel,’ before opening fire on everyone,” Meislin-Dietrich said. “He was randomly shooting at everyone.”
Police would not confirm the account.
David Gomez, an FBI assistant special agent in charge of counterterrorism, said investigators believe the gunman targeted the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle.
“We believe at this point it’s a lone individual acting out antagonism toward this particular organization,” Gomez said.
‘Didn’t know what was happening’
Several witnesses said they saw a man walk up and shoot a woman in the leg on a sidewalk near the federation building.
One of the wounded had been described as a 43-year-old woman who was shot in the abdomen while another, described as 17 weeks pregnant, was reportedly hit in the arm, The Seattle Times reported.
“We heard this horrible screaming on the floor above us and shots,” Patti Simon said in a phone interview, her voice shaking.
“We didn’t know what was happening.”
I am quite concerned about this. It is just one more thing leading to a further erosion of our children’s innocence and a change in how we go about our business.
Sad Yawp!
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