A 37-year-old Muslim man from Michigan who planned to “even the score” and use guns for “God’s wrath” after threatening Jewish preschoolers pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Hassan Chokr, of Dearborn, Michigan, “aggressively targeted Jewish parents and their preschool children at a local synagogue in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. After unleashing a menacing antisemitic tirade against them, he lied and attempted to buy several firearms at a Dearborn gun store,” the Department of Justice stated.
“In December 2022, Chokr, 37, drove through the parking lot of a Jewish synagogue as parents walked their preschoolers into the building, yelling profanities and attacking their support for Israel,” the DOJ noted.
The DOJ’s statement continues:
“After being asked to leave, Chokr drove to a gun store in Dearborn. While there, he possessed a Landor Arms, 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun; a Del-ton, 5.56mm rifle; and a Glock, 9mm semi-automatic pistol. He held each firearm, and at times pointed it and pulled the trigger.”
“After deciding to purchase the three firearms, Chokr lied about his eligibility to possess firearms by indicating that he had never been convicted of a felony offense when in fact, he had been convicted of a felony several years prior. While awaiting the results of the background check, Chokr indicated that he would ‘even the score’ and use the guns for ‘God’s wrath.'”
“Chokr’s attempt to purchase several deadly firearms in an apparent attempt to follow through on his menacing threats against parents and preschoolers as they walked into a place of worship represents every American’s worst nightmare,” United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. stated.
“And we will not allow anyone to terrorize our Jewish neighbors. We are committed to protecting every American and their right to live and worship free of fear,” he added.
Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills, the purported synagogue where the children were targeted, was the first Jewish congregation in the state of Michigan, established in Detroit in 1850. The site moved to Bloomfield Hills in 1973.
Chokr, whose case was investigated by the FBI, faces a maximum sentence of up to 15 years’ imprisonment.
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