2019 Poway Chabad Shooting and Dar-ul-Arqam Mosque Arson

Lessons Learned from Deadly-Force Attacks on Places of Worship

An article based on the Safety Member Certification training module "Active Shooter Response" and the Church Security Guide article "Church Safety: Active Killer Response Strategies."[1][2][3]

From the Bible

For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart (Psalm 11:2).

As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death (Proverbs 26:18).

Introduction

Throughout history there have been acts of deadly violence motivated by racial, ethnic, and religious hatred. Our time is no exception. Therefore, we must always be vigilant, ready to protect our people from violence.

In this case, one individual conducted hateful violence against the places of worship of two faiths.

Background

Locations: Poway is a town in northern San Diego County, California. Escondido is further north in the same county.

Chabad is a conservative orthodox branch of Judaism that seeks to help all Jews with a stress on unity. A worldwide Jewish movement, it started in 1775 in the part of divided Poland which was under Russian rule. With changes in international boundaries and national governments, the center of the movement moved from place to place, especially under Communist persecution.

The center of Chabad is now in Brooklyn, New York. There are many local Chabad congregations in California. They are organized as Chabad in California. The Chabad of Poway was founded in 1986 by Rabbi Goldstein, who was wounded in the 2019 shooting.

According to a review on a listing of churches in Escondido, the Dar-ul-Arqam Mosque (Islamic Center of Escondido) was started in July 2016 in a church building. It is a Sunni congregation. Google street views of the location from March 2015 and earlier show it as the Church of Christ (that congregation has moved to a larger building about a mile away).

Street views of the synagogue and the mosque show easy access to the main entrances of both. They each have fencing around the rest of their properties, including the parking lots, which have gates.

The Chabad of Poway is just inside the City of Poway where it borders San Diego. The main entrance of the synagogue is on a diagonal street less than a block long named Chabad Way. This street goes from Espola Road to Rock Road. It is the only public access to Rock Road and the neighborhoods on it. Across Chabad Way from the synagogue is Saint John of Damascus Orthodox Church. The entrance to the church's parking lot is across the street from the synagogue's preschool entrance. On the other side of Saint John's is Incarnation Lutheran church. That's three places of worship in a row.

The synagogue's parking lot (in line with Rock Road) has no more than 20 slots. The lower end of the church's parking lot appears to be shared parking, which would be feasible since their services are on different days of the week. Street views over the years show cars parked on Chabad Way on the side across from the synagogue.

The Arson

News stories do not reveal where on the Dar-ul-Arqam Mosque the fire was set, nor how it was started, but street views show the front of the building, as accessible with no barriers, especially the inset entry, a perfect spot with limited visibility. That would also be where one exit could be blocked by a fire (there are other exits at the side and in the back).

The fire was started during predawn hours on Sunday morning, March 24, 2019. Some Muslim missionaries were staying there for the weekend and were asleep. They awoke to find a fire on the exterior of the building. By the time firefighters arrived, they had already extinguished it. The only damage was some charring. Since the building was occupied when the fire was set, this was First Degree Arson - i.e. fire was used as deadly force.

Daylight revealed graffiti referencing the shootings at mosques in New Zealand eight days earlier. This marked the act as a terrorist hate crime.

The Shooting

April 27, 2019, a Saturday (Sabbath), was the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (the eight days beginning with Passover). The previous Sunday was Easter (the Feast of First Fruits). The service marking the end of Passover week started at 11:00 am.

About 11:22, surveillance cameras showed a car coming up Chabad Way and stopping across from the main entrance. A young man jumped out of the car carrying a rifle. He dashed across the street and up the steps to the entrance. Interior cameras then showed him coming into the foyer and heading for the sanctuary, where the rabbi was giving a message.

The intruder began firing his gun. A woman stepped in front of the rabbi just as the gunman fired that way. She was fatally wounded and the rabbi's hand was shot. A man and his young niece were hit by shrapnel. Some of the adults, including the rabbi, rushed children out of the sanctuary to safety, placing themselves between the gunman and the kids. There were some bumps and bruises on the way.

Then the shooter's gun jammed. He ran out, chased by a veteran and an armed member (who was a border guard). Outside, the border guard fired at the intruder, hitting his car. The assailant drove off.

For whatever reason, the assailant called 911 and told the police where he was. He surrendered when they arrived. He told them he had shot Jews at the synagogue and had also set fire to a mosque.

The Arsonist and Shooter

The attacker was 19. He was from a church-going Christian family and had been a nursing student at a local college. He was successful academically, but socially he was extremely shy.

Someone who knew him at the church said he was "too quiet," would not engage in conversation. On social media, however, he said more. His postings and the sites he visited were white supremacist, mainly anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim. He was an admirer of the New Zealand mosque shootings and the Pittsburgh Tree of Life shooting. In his last posting he regretted that he could only kill so many Jews. It appears that he was possibly copying those two acts.[4][5]

The assault rifle had been legally purchased, since the young man had no police record. Whether he had lessons in using the weapon or practice in cleaning it and in shooting was not mentioned in news stories. The gun jamming when it did suggests inexperience with handling firearms.

Something in the attacker's upbringing may have come into play at the end. Did the reality that he was killing people get to him? Was he remorseful?

Aftermath

First, the members of Dar-ul-Arqam Mosque were able to clean up the charring from the arson fire and continue using the building.

In Chabad of Poway, only four persons were shot, thanks to the incompetence of the shooter and the courage of an armed member. Of these one died, a 60-year-old woman who shielded the rabbi. The rabbi lost a wounded index finger. A young man and his 8-year-old niece were hit by shrapnel and not seriously injured. The rabbi resumed preaching to encourage the congregation.

Questions were raised about security measures. Oh yes, they had surveillance cameras. That's how we are able to see the assailant parking his car, getting out with an assault rifle, and running up to the main entrance. However, there was no time to stop him, even if the cameras were monitored. He just came up, opened the door, and walked in. In 2021 the families of the deceased woman and the injured member and his niece sued the synagogue for insufficient security. More of this follows under "Lesson Learned."

Whether or not related to the issues of security measures, the rabbi was under investigation for tax fraud, theft, and money laundering. In 2022 he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 14 months in prison. The question here was how were federal and state funding for security spent? In fairness, the last grant before the shooting was not made available until just before the attack, which means that there was not enough time to apply it. That money was earmarked for more secure doors, fencing, gates, and (especially) security personnel. The cameras and alarms had already been upgraded.

The attacker pleaded guilty to all 113 federal charges for both the mosque arson and the synagogue shooting. He was sentenced to life in prison plus over a hundred years. There is no way he could live long enough to get parole.

Even without a public apology, his readiness to call police, to confess, and then to plead guilty may suggest some remorse. However, remorse does not unburn a fire, heal wounds, or bring the dead back to life.

Lessons Learned

Both the mosque and the synagogue needed target hardening. This should take into consideration their urban settings with their front doors just a few steps above the sidewalk.

Locking Doors

A standing security procedure should be to close and lock entry doors when a class or service begins. This was not done on the morning of the synagogue shooting.

Fencing and Gating

The mosque needs fencing and gating in the front requiring visitors to ring a bell if they come after hours. Sensors and alarms should notify security persons if someone tries to breach the gating. This alone may deter arson in the inset entrance, or at least interrupt an attempt.

The synagogue, likewise, needs fencing and gating to control off-hours access. This could also slow the rush of a violent intruder during events. Also, the glass doors and windows should be shatter-proofed.

Sensors on Windows and Doors

Since mosques are now on target lists, all windows and doors should have sensors and alarms. Motion-guided cameras would pinpoint the location of an attempted intrusion. The same strategy needs to also be applied to synagogues and churches, especially those with high public profiles.

Actively Watch Entrances

All places of worship need to constantly watch entrances during meetings, classes, events, and office hours. Unattended doors should be locked and have activated alarms. All windows should open only from the inside. They can be escape routes, but resist intrusion.

Monitor Cameras Live

All cameras need to be monitored. Recording surveillance cameras is great for investigating an incident, but monitoring them live when the facility is occupied can hasten a response. This could have literally made the difference between life and death at Chabad of Poway. Early detection could have triggered an interior lockdown.

Enhance Territorial Security

Chabad Way cannot be gated to restrict access since it is the only access to entire neighborhoods. That kind of consideration should factor into construction plans for new or expanding facilities of a place of worship so access to entryways can be better controlled.

Neighboring places of worship might consider ways of jointly enhancing security. Examining maps of the Chabad's neighborhood reveals a possible route for extending Old Espola Road east to the property line between Saint John of Damascus Orthodox Church and the next-door Incarnation Lutheran Church and south to Espola Road (County Hwy S5). Alternatively, Rock Road could be extended at the other end to connect to either or both of two other roads. Either way would allow Congregation Chabad and the Orthodox Church to jointly take possession of Chabad Way and have it gated to control access.

Have a Trained Safety & Security Team

A very important step for any religious organization is to have persons who focus on safety and security. This begins with evaluating the safety posture of the groups and its facilities. Then plan for safety and form a safety ministry. Two Church Security Guide articles ("How to Start a Church Safety Ministry in 5 Simple Steps" and "How to Conduct a Risk Assessment") will inform concerned church leaders on how to do this. We have a free download, "Practical Steps to Start a Safety Ministry and a DIY Security Assessment," to help you in this project. It includes a 27-page Church Safety / Security Ministry Security Assessment form. Click *HERE* to get it.[6][7][8]

Sheepdog Church Security's Safety Member Certification program has eight training modules. The second one is "Active Shooter Response." Students completing all eight classes and the certification test for each will be Certified Safety Members for two years.[1]

Training to respond to an active-killer incident needs to include drills. These will train team members' instincts and equip them to think while under pressure. An example at the synagogue of thinking under pressure was adults taking children to safety.

Conclusion

Concrete steps need to be taken to protect places of worship against arson and deadly-force attacks

References

Sheepdog Church Security Resources

1. Kris Moloney, "Active Shooter Response," Safety Member Certification, Sheepdog Church Security, © 2020 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/bundles/safety-member-certification].
2. Kris P. Moloney, Church Security Guide, The Sheepdog Sentinel, Safety Member Certification, Sheepdog Church Security, 2018/2023 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/pages/security-articles?c=church-security-guide].
3. Kris P. Moloney, Church Safety Teams and Active Shooter Training, Church Security Guide, The Sheepdog Sentinel, Safety Member Certification, Sheepdog Church Security, June 9, 2023 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/pages/security-articles?p=church-safety-active-killer-response-strategies].
4. WGV, "Tree of Life Synagogue: Defense Amid Deadly Worship Attack," Lesson Learned, The Sheepdog Sentinel, Sheepdog Church Security, February 20, 2024 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/pages/security-articles?p=tree-of-life-synagogue-defense-amid-deadly-worship-attack].
5. Rachel M. Moloney, "Immediate Response Tactics | Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting," Lesson Learned, The Sheepdog Sentinel, Sheepdog Church Security, November 13, 2024 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/pages/security-articles?p=immediate-response-tactics-tree-of-life-synagogue-shooting].
6. Kris P. Moloney, "How to Start a Church Safety Ministry in 5 Simple Steps," Church Security Guide, Sheepdog Sentinel, Sheepdog Church Security, 2018, reposted June 9, 2023 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/pages/security-articles?p=how-to-start-a-church-safety-ministry-in-5-simple-steps , also at https://sheepdogchurchsecurity.net/church-security-guide/].
7. Kris P. Moloney, "How to Conduct a Risk Assessment," Church Security Guide, Sheepdog Sentinel, Sheepdog Church Security, 2018, reposted June 9, 2023 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/pages/security-articles?p=how-to-conduct-a-risk-assessment , also at https://sheepdogchurchsecurity.net/church-security-assessment].
8. Kris Moloney, "Practical Steps to Start a Safety Ministry and a DIY Security Assessment," Sheepdog Church Security, © Copyright 2018 [https://sheepdog-church-security.kit.com/9c5f2d32cc].

News Accounts

1. "Chabad," Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chabad].
2. Morgan Winsor, "Arsonist who burned California mosque referred to New Zealand attack in graffiti: Police," ABC News, March 25, 2019 [https://abcnews.go.com/US/arsonist-burned-california-mosque-referred-zealand-attack-graffiti/story?id=61919931].
3. Peter Allen Clark and Tara Law, "1 Dead, Rabbi and 2 Others Injured in Synagogue Shooting Near San Diego," Time. April 27, 2019; Updated April 28, 2019 [https://time.com/5579168/shooting-california-synagogue/].
4. Ray Sanchez and Artemis Moshtaghian, with contributions by Steve Almasy, Dakin Andone, Chuck Johnston and Stephanie Becker, "Mayor says synagogue shooting in California that left 1 dead and 3 wounded was a ‘hate crime'," CNN, Updated April 28, 2019 [https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/27/us/san-diego-synagogue/index.html].
5. By Forward Staff (Aiden Pink and Ari Feldman), "Here's What We Know About The California Synagogue Shooting," Forward, April 28, 2019 [https://forward.com/news/423323/heres-what-we-know-about-the-california-synagogue-shooting/].
6. Joel Shannon, Chris Woodyard, Julie Makinen, and Amy DiPierro, "California synagogue shooting: Suspect known as quiet, smart while authorities question if he was hateful," USA Today, April 28, 2019 [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/04/28/california-synagogue-shooting-who-suspect-john-t-earnest/3608583002/].
7. Julie Watson and Don Thompson with Adam Beam, "California Synagogue Got U.S. Security Grant Before Attack," KQED, May 2, 2019 [https://www.kqed.org/news/11744501/california-synagogue-got-u-s-security-grant-before-attack].
8. By City News Service, "Family of Wounded Girl Sues Chabad of Poway over Lack of Security in 2019," Times of San Diego, April 6, 2021 [https://timesofsandiego.com/crime/2021/04/06/family-of-wounded-girl-sues-chabad-of-poway-over-lack-of-security-in-2019/].
9. By City News Service, "Chabad of Poway Shooter Pleads Guilty to All 113 Federal Charges," NBC San Diego, Published September 17, 2021; Updated on September 18, 2021 [https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/chabad-of-poway-shooter-pleads-guilty-in-deadly-attack/2721636/].
10. By Christina Bravo, Associated Press and NBC 7 Staff, "Survivors, Loved Ones Describe ‘Pure Evil' of Poway Synagogue Shooter at Sentencing," NBC San Diego, September 30, 2021 [https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/poway-synagogue-shooter-to-be-sentenced-in-state-court/2731560/].
11. Louis Keene, "Fraud, betrayal and spy gear: Inside the messy battle for Chabad of Poway," Forward, August 21, 2023 [https://forward.com/news/558198/chabad-of-poway-scandal-turns-on-spy-pen/].