John T. Earnest Charged in Poway Synagogue Massacre

A 19-year-old Rancho Peñasquitos man has been charged with 109 federal hate crimes in connection with the April 27 massacre at Chabad of Poway Synagogue, where one woman was murdered and three others—including a child—were shot during Shabbat services. John T. Earnest allegedly stormed the house of worship armed with an AR-15-style rifle and five loaded magazines, unleashing terror on a congregation celebrating the final day of Passover.

Earnest, according to the affidavit, opened fire inside the sanctuary, killing 60-year-old Lori Gilbert-Kaye and injuring three others before a malfunction during a reload attempt allowed congregants to chase him from the building. Among those who confronted him was an off-duty Border Patrol agent. Earnest fled in his vehicle but was apprehended shortly after, with the rifle and additional ammunition recovered from his car by law enforcement.

The criminal complaint paints a chilling picture of premeditated violence fueled by bigotry. Authorities found a manifesto online bearing Earnest’s name, later confirmed on his laptop, in which he declared hatred for Jews, referred to them as a race, and expressed regret only that he hadn’t killed more people. He also admitted to setting fire to the Islamic Center of Escondido on March 24, 2019, where seven people were inside when they detected gasoline and flames at the door.

Surveillance footage from the mosque arson matched the vehicle Earnest used in the synagogue attack. In the manifesto, he claimed inspiration from the October 2018 Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where 11 worshippers were murdered—an act of domestic terrorism he sought to emulate.

“We will not allow our community members to be hunted in their houses of worship, where they should feel free and safe to exercise their right to practice their religion,” said U.S. Attorney Robert S. Brewer, Jr. Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband added that the Department of Justice will “vigorously prosecute” hate crimes and acts of domestic terrorism, reaffirming federal commitment to protecting civil rights.

FBI San Diego Acting Special Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner praised the community’s resilience, calling the response from law enforcement, faith leaders, and neighbors “extraordinary.” The investigation remains ongoing as Earnest faces charges including murder, attempted murder, and hate crimes under federal law—a case that underscores the lethal threat of homegrown extremism in America’s most sacred spaces.