A Jewish man is facing serious charges after allegedly shooting two Israeli nationals in Miami Beach. The shooter, 27-year-old Mordechai Brafman, mistakenly thought the men were Palestinians during a busy Saturday night. The incident happened around 9:30 PM and is being labeled as an “unprovoked” attack.
Brafman has two counts of attempted second-degree murder against him. His lawyer, Dustin Tischler, stated that Brafman was experiencing a severe mental health crisis when he opened fire. Tischler mentioned that this mental state severely impacted Brafman’s ability to make sound judgments. Brafman intends to cooperate with authorities and is relieved that the victims are recovering.
The victims, father and son Yaron and Ari Rabi, were on vacation in Miami Beach at the time. According to reports, Brafman shot at their vehicle 17 times after making a U-turn to approach them. Both men were injured: Ari was hit in the shoulder, while Yaron suffered a bullet graze on his arm. They were taken to a local hospital, where they received treatment.
Ari Rabi shared that one bullet just missed his father’s head. Fortunately, both victims confirmed to the media that they had never met Brafman before the incident. Surveillance footage captured Brafman’s truck moments before the shooting, showing him deliberately turning around to target their car.
After the shooting, the Rabi family posted videos and pictures online, showing their injuries and the damage to their vehicle. They also expressed their disbelief at the violence, stressing that it doesn’t matter whether someone is Palestinian or Jewish—no one should resort to gun violence.
Cair’s national executive director, Nihad Awad, remarked on social media about the troubling nature of the incident, highlighting the irony that both the shooter and the victims hold anti-Palestinian sentiments.
Brafman was taken into police custody shortly after the shooting. He is scheduled to appear again in court soon, where he will face the serious charges against him.
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