According to court documents, a 13-year-old boy in Ohio has been arrested on charges of planning a mass shooting at Temple Israel, a synagogue in Canton. The suspect, whose identity remains confidential due to legal reasons, faces charges of inducing panic and disorderly conduct, both misdemeanors. The alleged plan was shared on Discord, an online chat platform previously used by other mass shooters to discuss their intentions.
The Stark County Sheriff’s Office filed a report stating that the suspect created a detailed shooting plan on Discord, leading to an immediate investigatory response after being reported to law enforcement on September 1. The revelation caused significant alarm within the school system. The arrest occurred before the conflict between Israel and Hamas but comes amid a rise in antisemitic attacks and anti-Muslim violence in the U.S.
The Anti-Defamation League Cleveland expressed horror at the news, thanking law enforcement for their thorough investigation. They emphasized that hate and threats, whether on social media or in real life, will not be tolerated. The suspect appeared in a pre-trial hearing on November 20 and is scheduled for a full trial on December 20. The boy’s legal representative was contacted for comment, but no response was received by the time of publication.
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In a separate incident, a man was federally charged for firing shots outside a synagogue in Albany, New York, last week. Additionally, a Jewish couple reported being attacked on their way to a Beverly Hills synagogue, with the suspect facing multiple felony counts and the possibility of life in prison.