What to Know About the Poway Synagogue Shooting – The New York Times

Lori Gilbert Kaye died after jumping in front of the rabbi to protect him. The rabbi was hit in both hands.

The gunman left the building, potentially after his weapon malfunctioned, and surrendered to the police a short time later. He was charged with one count of murder and three counts of attempted murder on Sunday morning. Officials said they were investigating whether he posted an anti-Semitic manifesto online before the attack.

[Read the full account of the attack here.]

What do we know about the gunman?

Authorities have identified the gunman as John Earnest, from San Diego.

Officials said they’re investigating whether Mr. Earnest posted a racist manifesto on the online message board 8chan ahead of the attack.

The document is an anti-Semitic screed filled with white nationalist conspiracy theories. Its author said he was inspired by a horrific mass shooting at a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, which was streamed online, and the massacre at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, which took place exactly six months prior.

The author also says he was responsible for a fire at a mosque in Escondido, not far away.

Mr. Earnest was charged with one count of murder and three counts of attempted murder on Sunday morning.

Does this fit into any broader patterns?

In a word, yes. Experts said the shooting appeared to fit at the intersection of two troubling trends: Growing anti-Semitism in the United States and a rise in violence both fueled by and partially carried out for the internet.