Police have arrested a 19-year-old man in connection to a deadly shooting that took place on Saturday at a San Diego-area synagogue in what officials are deeming a hate crime. Mayor Steve Vaus of the city of Poway confirmed that the shooting took place at Congregation Chabad on the final day of Passover. Vaus added that it looks to be a hate crime due to "statements that were made when the shooter entered."
CNN reports that the mayor acknowledged the act as being committed by "someone with hate in their heart ... towards our Jewish community and that just will not stand."
President Donald Trump went on to confirm to reporters outside of the White House that it does indeed look to be a hate crime at this time.
"My deepest sympathies to all of those affected and we'll get to the bottom of it," he added.
Poway's Palomar Medical Center received four patients from the shooting according to a hospital spokeswoman. According to San Diego County Sherriff bill Gore, an older female died at the hospital.
The three other victims have been identified as one girl and two men and are said to be in stable condition with no life-threatening injuries.
Mayor Vaus told CNN that the congregation was one that took security "very seriously." He also added that the shooter was "engaged" by members of the congregation when the shooting began,
"Those brave people certainly prevented this from being a much worse tragedy," he said.
