Jersey City Shooters Identified, One Linked To Black Hebrew Israelite Group

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The shooting resulted in the deaths of six people.

A man involved in a shooting in Jersey City, New Jersey, that resulted in the deaths of six people, has been linked to the Black Hebrew Israelite movement.

In a report from the New York Times, authorities believe that the JC Kosher Supermarket was specifically targeted by David Anderson and Francine Graham. It is the 47-year-old Anderson who is said to have a connection to the Black Hebrew Israelites, though law enforcement don't know the extent of his involvement in the group.

As the Times notes, anti-Semitic posts Anderson published online were discovered, as well as a manifesto-style note inside his van. The note was described as brief and "rambling," and suggested no clear motive for the shooting.

The Black Hebrew Israelite movement's belief system isn't associated with mainstream Judaism, and varies among the groups associated with it.

Per Forward.com:

Hebrew Israelites are people of color, mostly African Americans, who proclaim ancestral ties to the biblical Israelites. The century-old movement is sprawling and diverse. Some black Israelite groups, often called “camps,” read the New Testament; others only observe Torah. Some more extreme Israelite camps view themselves alone as the “true Israelites” and other white Jews as usurpers; other communities have sought to build bridges to mainstream Jewish establishments.

Since the incident, Black Hebrew Israelites has become a trending topic on Twitter.

Six people were left dead from the shooting, including three bystanders who were in the store when the attack began.

Source: New York Times