Florida man indicted for allegedly plotting mass shooting of Jewish employees at advocacy group
A Florida man has been indicted for allegedly plotting a mass shooting targeting Jewish employees at a pro-Israel nonprofit organization, the Justice Department said.Forrest Kendall Pemberton, 27, of Gainesville, is charged with an attempted hate crime, using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, and possession of a short-barreled rifle.Federal prosecutors said that on Dec.23, 2024, Pemberton attempted to carry out a shooting at an office belonging to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a group that lobbies the US government in support of Israel, in the South Florida city of Plantation.He was reportedly armed with an AR-15-style rifle equipped with a silencer.
The Palm Beach Post previously reported that AIPAC was the targeted group.Court documents didn’t specify the nonprofit.Critics of AIPAC have said the group defends the actions of conservative Israeli governments, including expansionist settlement policies in the West Bank and aggressive military campaigns, while opposing conditions or restrictions on US military aid to Israel.If convicted, Pemberton faces up to life in prison on the attempted hate crime count, a mandatory consecutive sentence of up to 30 years in prison on the firearm count, and up to five years in prison on the possession count.Investigators traced Pemberton using cellphone geolocation technology.
He allegedly planned to volunteer for AIPAC in an effort to gain access to the group and carry out a deadly attack.Authorities said he left his home on Dec.
22, 2024, with two rifles and a pistol after leaving a note for his family.However, when he arrived at the building he believed to be the AIPAC headquarters, the structure was empty, The Palm Beach Post previously reported.Law enforcement initially became involved in the case when Pemberton’s father called the Gainesville Police Department out of concern over his son’s disappearance.The newspaper reported that Pemberton left a letter apologizing to h...