A 22-year-old man from Mauritania, Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi, faces multiple charges following an October 26 shooting incident in the West Rogers Park area. Authorities allege Abdallahi conducted the attack against a Jewish man on his way to a synagogue and later fired at police and paramedics. During a court hearing on Friday, Assistant State’s Attorney Anne McCord Rodgers described the attack as part of a larger, “calculated plan” targeting the Jewish community.
Abdallahi, who entered the U.S. two years ago, reportedly used his cellphone to map out locations of synagogues, Jewish schools, and community centers prior to the shooting. Prosecutors disclosed the phone contained antisemitic content and searches related to gun stores and firing ranges. Surveillance footage from the scene in the 2900 block of West Farwell Avenue captured the incident in which the victim heard a gunshot and felt a shoulder injury but initially did not realize he had been shot.
After the attack, there was public criticism directed at local officials for not classifying the incident as a hate crime or terrorism. The assailant reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the attack, as captured in a viral video. Following the initial shooting, Abdallahi returned to the scene and engaged in a confrontation with the police, firing at officers and paramedics attending to the victim.
Judge Susana Ortiz, citing the severity of the charges, including attempted murder, hate crime, and terrorism, ordered Abdallahi to remain in detention. He appeared in court for the first time after being hospitalized for injuries sustained during the shoot-out with law enforcement.
