The man accused of shooting a Jewish man who was walking to synagogue in West Rogers Park last weekend now faces additional charges of terrorism and hate crime, officials announced Thursday.
Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi, 22, was arrested Saturday morning following a shootout with Chicago police officers. He allegedly opened fire on responding police officers and paramedics, and was later shot by CPD officers. He remained hospitalized as of Thursday, officials said.
Around 9:30 a.m. Saturday, a 39-year-old Orthodox Jewish man was in the 2600 block of West Farwell Avenue when another man approached from behind and shot him in the shoulder, police previously said. Neighbors came to the aid of the wounded man while the shooter remained in the area.
Soon after, once police were on the scene, the shooter emerged from an alley and opened fire on officers, CPD’s deputy chief of detectives, Kevin Bruno, previously told reporters. For the next two and a half minutes, Bruno said, the man popped out of various locations, exchanging shots with officers. No officers were injured, but a Chicago Fire Department ambulance was struck by the gunfire.
CPD officers returned fire, critically wounding Abdallahi, police said. He remained at Ascension St. Francis Hospital in Evanston in critical condition as of Thursday.
The 39-year-old man was treated and later released from the hospital.
Monday, Abdallahi was charged with six counts of attempted murder, seven counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm and one count of aggravated battery.
The shooting was not immediately charged as a hate crime, disappointing Ald. Debra Silverstein, 50th, who said many in her ward felt unsafe after the gunfire. The victim was in traditional Orthodox dress and on his way to synagogue when he was struck by a bullet.
“These charges reflect the seriousness of this crime,” Silverstein said at a police news conference Monday. “However, I am concerned by the lack of hate crime charges in this case. While the motive is still under investigation, the community is, rightfully, troubled given the nature and timing of the attack.”
Snelling on Monday stressed the situation remained under investigation and further police work needed to be done.
Records show Abdallahi was born in Mauritania.
Police did not directly address some media reports that the man charged shouted an Arabic phrase while firing at officers, but again said it remained under investigation.
“Our investigations (are) based on facts that we gather into evidence in order to present charges,” Snelling told reporters Monday. “Until we have those facts, we will not announce charges. It’s about what we can prove at the time based on the facts.”