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<\/a><\/p>\nHome surveillance footage of the drive-by pellet gun shooting of a Jewish home in Redlands, California. (Screenshot)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
During the attack on the home, which had several inflatable Chanukah decorations in its yard, the assailants drove by in a vehicle and allegedly unloaded 20 shots.<\/p>\n
Later, the occupants of the vehicle allegedly shouted \u201cF\u2013ck the Jews\u201d and \u201cFree Palestine, N\u2013ger,\u201d according to an account of the incident posted to X by a resident of the home, Rodgir Cohen.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust as a reaction, people just, through ignorance and hate, respond with negativity and violence,\u201d Cohen told CBS News. \u201cFor random acts of hate crimes, it\u2019s scary to be in the midst of a victim and it\u2019s scary.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cohen told a different local news outlet that he and his son had encountered the alleged assailants in person shortly before the shooting.<\/p>\n
The City of Redlands said no injuries or damage was reported, and the weapon used was believed to be an airsoft gun after an investigation found no shell casings and the surveillance video of the incident showed no muzzle flash.<\/p>\n
Local officials condemned the incident, which came during the same weekend as a major antisemitic attack on Jews celebrating Chanukah in Sydney, Australia.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs our friends in the Jewish community begin their celebration of Hanukkah, several tragic incidents have occurred across the globe, targeting people simply because of their faith,\u201d the City of Redlands wrote in a statement. \u201cUnfortunately, Redlands is not immune to these hateful acts, as a local family was targeted because of their festive home decorations celebrating Hanukkah. \u201d<\/p>\n
The incident is currently being investigated as a hate crime, and Redlands Police said they believed the family was targeted because of the Chanukah decorations. They also said they would provide additional patrols in the area and around local places of worship.<\/p>\n
The Los Angeles chapter of the Anti-Defamation League decried the incident. \u201cLast night\u2019s shooting into the home of a Jewish family on Shabbat in Redlands, CA is another dangerous and despicable act of violence impacting the Jewish community in Southern California,\u201d David Englin, the group\u2019s senior regional director, said in a statement. \u201cThis cannot be tolerated or accepted as normal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year, the ADL reported that California had 1,344 antisemitic incidents, the second-highest number of any state besides New York. Of those incidents, 1,000 were antisemitic harassment, while 311 were vandalism and 33 were assault.<\/p>\n
Congregation Emanu El, a Reform synagogue in Redlands, wrote on Facebook Sunday that it was in communication with the family, who were past members, as well as with Redlands Police.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease know that the safety and well-being of our community remains our highest priority,\u201d wrote Congregation Emanu El President Greg Weissman. \u201cWe will continue to stay in close contact with local authorities and share updates as appropriate. Thank you for your care for one another and for our community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cohen is a lecturer in religion at Cal State Fullerton and a former political candidate in Redlands who ran on a tough-on-crime platform. His wife Heftsibah Cohen told a local news outside that she initially thought fireworks were going off before checking a surveillance tape.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe always know there\u2019s antisemitism and hate and racism out there. It\u2019s always out there,\u201d she said. \u201cBut when it comes by your house, it\u2019s that reminder of how real it is.\u201d<\/p>\n