A 27-year-old man faces charges of attempted murder after firing 17 shots at a car carrying an Israeli father and son, both tourists. Authorities report that the shooter admitted to opening fire under the mistaken belief that the victims were "Palestinians." Fortunately, both survived, though one suffered a gunshot wound to the left shoulder and the other to the left forearm.
The incident unfolded on Sunday evening in one of the busiest areas of Miami Beach. According to a police report cited by local media, the suspect—identified as Mordechai Brafman—made a U-turn with his truck, pulled up next to the victims’ vehicle, and fired without provocation. Security cameras in the vicinity captured the moment Brafman fired up to 17 rounds at the car containing the father and son.
After the shooting, the victims managed to escape and took refuge in a nearby building where they called for help.
Confession and Potential Charges
Brafman was apprehended shortly after the incident. During his interrogation at the police station, he spontaneously confessed, claiming, "While driving my truck, I saw two Palestinians and shot them both," according to the police report. Despite the victims surviving, the severity of the attack has led the District Attorney's office to file second-degree attempted murder charges. Additionally, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is demanding federal hate crime charges, arguing that the attack was clearly motivated by anti-Palestinian bias.
In response to the Miami Beach shooting, Wilfredo Amr Ruiz, CAIR-Florida's communications director, stated, "The alleged shooter's actions, supposedly driven by prejudice, not the actual ethnicity of the victims, should be the determining factor for charges in this disturbing case."
Rising Hate Crimes in the U.S.
The attack has been widely condemned and has reignited discussions about the surge in hate crimes across the United States, particularly amidst tensions between Israel and Hamas. In October 2023, a six-year-old Palestinian-American boy was fatally stabbed in Illinois, and his mother was severely injured in an attack linked to the Gaza conflict. Similarly, later that year, three Palestinian-American college students were shot in Vermont while speaking Arabic and wearing keffiyehs.
Understanding the Impact of Hate Crimes
What charges is the shooter facing?
The shooter is facing charges of second-degree attempted murder and there are calls for federal hate crime charges due to the motivation behind the attack.
How did the victims escape after the shooting?
The victims managed to escape the scene and sought refuge in a nearby building where they contacted authorities for help.
What has been the public reaction to this incident?
The shooting has been condemned across various sectors of society and has sparked discussions about the rise of hate crimes in the United States.