A Michigan man convicted of a felony has confessed to plotting a mass shooting targeting a daycare associated with a synagogue, federal prosecutors say.
In December 2022, while out on bond in an unrelated case, 35‑year-old Hassan Chokr confronted families outside Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills, shouting antisemitic insults and threatening parents and preschoolers. Shortly afterward, he visited a gun shop in nearby Dearborn and tried to buy three firearms, including an AR‑15 style rifle and a semi‑automatic shotgun. Chokr told the dealer he intended to use the weapons for “God’s wrath.”
However, his attempt was thwarted when a background check flagged an earlier felony theft conviction from 2017 and an existing charge for assault with a dangerous weapon. Chokr had lied on his purchase application, claiming he had no prior convictions or pending charges.
On May 28, Chokr pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms. Prosecutors maintain his gun purchase was part of a larger scheme to realize his threats against the Jewish community. Surveillance footage from the store showed him handling and at times pointing the weapons. While awaiting the background check, he reportedly declared that he would “even the score.”
He faces up to 15 years in prison, and is due to be sentenced in September.
Source: JEWISH News
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