Alabama gunman plotting synagogue massacres arrested

Authorities raid the home of an Alabama man arming himself for mass shooting attacks on synagogues and for assassinations of unnamed public figures.

By World Israel News Staff

An Alabama man was arrested Monday night during a joint raid conducted by multiple law enforcement agencies amid suspicions that the suspect was planning a series of deadly shooting attacks.

On Tuesday, the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office announced that Jeremy Wayne Shoemaker had been arrested the day before in the small rural community of Needham, Alabama, after local deputies and officers from multiple federal law enforcement agencies raided the home of the suspect.

Shoemaker, the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office said, was preparing for mass shooting attacks against “multiple synagogues” in the region and may have also been planning assassinations of high-profile individuals.

“Last night likely acts of violence were averted before they happened,” the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office said. “The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), 1st Judicial Circuit District Attorney, and 1st Judicial Circuit Special Response Team (SRT) were notified of credible threats of violence made against multiple synagogues throughout Alabama and surrounding states.”

Authorities added that Shoemaker planned to die during one of his intended attacks.

“Further investigation revealed that the subject had intentions of not being taken alive and was possibly planning attacks on public figures as well,” they said.

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Law enforcement officials seized a number of firearms – including an assault rifle – at Shoemaker’s home, along with “a suitcase full of ammo, body armor and other items related to the plans of violence.”

According to Clarke County Sheriff DeWayne Smith, Shoemaker tried to engage the arresting officers in a firefight and to die rather than be taken alive.

“He had planned to shoot it out with the police, but due to tactics, he was unable to do so. Now he did sustain a few scratches as you can probably see in his mugshot, but that was due to the resisting he did once the arrest was effective.”

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