Chicago authorities face scrutiny following antisemitic shooting: 'National embarrassment'

The media was the first to confirm that the suspect, 22-year-old Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi, who was shot while walking to his synagogue on the Sabbath in Rogers Park, Chicago, last weekend, was a Mauritanian national who was in the U.S. illegally.

Following the attack, Chicago's Jewish community was concerned about the lack of information from the Chicago Police Department and Mayor Brandon Johnson, who took five days to acknowledge the victim's Jewish background. Additionally, the police did not disclose what Abdallahi shouted while shooting at officers, despite the availability of Ring camera footage. Despite their acknowledgement that "there was something stated," they refused to confirm the substance of the footage.

Richard Goldberg, a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that there is a clear cover-up happening to prevent the release of information prior to the upcoming election. They were aware of the shooter's illegal status from the moment they examined his ID.

"This should be a national scandal," Goldberg added.

The police news release lists Abdallahi's address as being 27 miles from Rogers Park. Goldberg pointed out that he made a considerable effort to travel a great distance for the alleged attack.

During the Oct. 31 news conference, Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling announced additional felony charges against Abdallahi for a hate crime and terrorism, increasing the total number of charges against him to 16.

"Snelling stated that the charges were not obtained due to public pressure or media attention. He explained that it takes time to gather evidence and facts. Snelling revealed that detectives were unable to interview Abdallahi, who is still hospitalized after being shot by police. The evidence on the suspect's phone showed that he planned the shooting and targeted people of the Jewish faith."

ICE spokesperson Erin Bultje confirmed to Planet Chronicle Digital that Abdallahi was apprehended while entering the country near San Ysidro in March and was subsequently released inside the U.S. Chicago officials did not provide details about Abdallahi’s immigration status in their news conference.

"Goldberg, a former NSC official in the Trump administration, stated that it was evident what occurred. An act of terrorism was committed by someone who entered the country unlawfully and was permitted to remain under Biden-Harris policies. After realizing the potential influence this could have on the presidential election, Democratic officials became anxious and attempted to restrict information dissemination. However, the Jewish community resisted."

In Brooklyn, New York, a 20-year-old Pakistani man was arrested two months ago by Canadian authorities for planning an attack on the Jewish community.

During a news conference on Thursday, a WGN journalist questioned State's Attorney Kim Foxx about her plans to comply with the ICE detainer for Abdallahi, who was confirmed to be a Mauritanian national.

"Foxx stated that they were only announcing charges today and would provide more details during the full-on proffer next week. She explained that the suspect was presumed innocent until proven guilty and had not had the chance to appear before a judge, so she was not giving specific details."

According to Pat Brady, a former federal and state prosecutor in Illinois, it is common for the specifics of a case to be withheld until the official arraignment.

Malka Reich, a stay-at-home mother who reportedly saw part of the attack in her front yard, believes that the mayor and possibly federal government officials are trying to conceal crucial details about the hate crime, as footage from her Ring camera has been widely shared.

Johnson was criticized for not mentioning the victim's religious background in his previous statements, despite being asked about it during a press conference on Thursday.

Johnson stated that as the mayor of Chicago, his responsibility is to ensure the safety of every community, and he takes this responsibility seriously. He emphasized that terror aims to create fear and make people feel isolated, but the Jewish community is not alone. He reaffirmed his commitment to standing with the Jewish community as he always has.

Johnson has been criticized for contributing to an antisemitic atmosphere in Chicago, as seen in his vote for a January cease-fire resolution during a City Council meeting.

The number of anti-Jewish hate crimes in Chicago has increased from 39 in 2022 to 50 in 2023 and then to 71 in 2024, according to the Chicago Police Department's Hate Crime Dashboard.

Alderman Debra Silverstein, a Jewish Chicagoan dissatisfied with early responses to Saturday's shooting, spoke with Planet Chronicle Digital before Abdallahi's hate crime charge was announced. She expressed the feeling in Chicago's Jewish community that "City Hall does not have their back."

Silverstein expressed concern about antisemitism in Chicago Public Schools after a pro-Palestinian walkout occurred following the passing of a cease-fire resolution by the Chicago City Council. During the walkout, some students were advised not to wear blue and white because the schools were uncertain about their ability to safeguard them.

The Jewish Insider reported that the new president of the Chicago Board of Education, Rev. Mitchell Johnson, has a history of posting inflammatory, anti-Semitic, anti-Israel, and pro-Hamas content on social media.

The mayor announced that he had asked for and received the resignation of the Rev. Johnson by Oct. 31, stating that the reverend's comments were "hurtful and deeply disturbing." The mayor emphasized that "antisemitic, misogynistic, and conspiratorial statements are unacceptable."

Silverstein expressed her happiness that the Rev. Johnson resigned but also stated that he should not have been appointed in the first place. She questioned the vetting process used for him and expressed concern about the other members and their vetting process.

Neither Mayor Johnson nor Gov. Pritzker responded to Planet Chronicle Digital's repeated requests for comment and clarification regarding the shooting victim's religion, the antisemitic environment in Chicago, and other updates on Abdallahi's case.

The Chicago Police Department directed Planet Chronicle Digital to their previous news releases regarding the shooter in response to inquiries.