On October 26, a 22-year-old man from Mauritania named Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi opened fire on an Orthodox Jewish man in Chicago's West Rogers Park neighborhood. The attacker, who was in the U. S. illegally, targeted the man because of his religion. Abdallahi had been in the country since March 2023, after being paroled in near San Ysidro.

The attack sparked outrage, but the full story didn't come out until later. Chicago officials waited five days to confirm the victim's religion and didn't mention Abdallahi's immigration status until much later. During his detention, Abdallahi tried to take his own life.

Investigators found that Abdallahi had used his phone to locate synagogues, Jewish community centers, and even a gun store before the attack. His phone also contained over 100 anti-Semitic and pro-Hamas videos and photos.

The attack wasn't just against the Jewish man; Abdallahi also targeted paramedics and police officers. He used a semi-automatic pistol that jammed during the initial shooting.

Abdallahi's death hasn't eased the community's fears. Malka Reich, a Jewish resident of West Rogers Park, said the incident highlights the ongoing problem of antisemitism and crime in Chicago. The community feels unsafe and wants more help with security and immigration issues.

Reich expressed disappointment with Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker's decision not to deport illegal immigrants. She also questioned if the federal government, under President-elect Donald Trump, would step in to help.

The incident shows that antisemitism is a real issue in Chicago. Reich, a mother of five, no longer feels safe going downtown due to recent attacks on pro-Israel protesters. She believes the problem isn't unique to Chicago and that Jewish Americans across the country feel similarly insecure.

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