Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop said Wednesday that the fatal shootings that left at least three civilians and one cop dead earlier this week was "a targeted attack."
Speaking with reporters Wednesday morning, Fulop—per NPR—said the "intent" of the suspects was initially not known. Now, after local authorities' review of footage, a determination has been made.
"But after reviewing the [closed-circuit TV] cameras on the Jersey City side, we do feel comfortable that it was a targeted attack on the Jewish kosher deli across the street here . . . We could see the van moving through Jersey City streets slowly," Fulop said. "The perpetrator stopped in front of there, calmly opened the door with two long rifles—him and the other perpetrator—and began firing from the street into the facility."
Fulop also emphasized the importance of responding officers' near-immediate arrival on the scene, noting that—if that had not been the case—many more innocent people could have been killed.
"The reason that those perpetrators seemed to be inside of that deli, and not able to move potentially to the school or to inflict more harm, was because the police responded immediately and returned fire," he said.
In a separate report Wednesday, NBC New York cited police sources as stating that the suspects were David Anderson and Francine Graham. While Public Safety Director James Shea has told reporters that a specific motive is not currently clear and remains under investigation, the report adds that Anderson is believed to be a "one-time follower" of the Black Hebrew Israelites and that his social media accounts included "anti-Jewish writings."
Attorney General Gurbir Grewal told reporters Wednesday that authorities had discovered a pipe bomb at the scene of the deadly shooting. The explosive device was found inside a van that was reportedly driven by one of the suspects; and although the bomb did not detonate, Special Agent-in-Charge Gregory W. Ehrie said the device was "viable," according to NJ.com.
The New York Post reports the Leah Minda Ferencz, who co-owns the deli with her husband was shot and killed during the incident. Moshe Deutsch, a deli customer, was also fatally shot, while the third victim has not been identified.
"They were targeted for being Jewish," U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. said "No American should feel unsafe because of their religion. Not one. An attack on any person for their religion is an attack on every one of us,” Pascrell said. “Anti-Semitism is a cancer on the world that must be stamped out wherever it rears its ugly head."
New Jersey authorities also said the shooters were also suspected of killing an Uber driver in Bayonne, New Jersey, this past weekend.
