Neighbor of Chicago Jewish Man Shot By Gunman Shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ Speaks Out

Malka was home alone with her baby in the West Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago on Saturday morning when she heard gunshots ring out. The gunman, who shot Malka’s Orthodox Jewish neighbor as he walked to synagogue, returned to the scene 20 minutes later, shouting “Allahu Akbar” and shooting at police and paramedics.

In a video of the first shooting Malka shared with The Daily Wire, two gunshots are heard, followed by a voice screaming “Get off me! Leave me alone! Leave me alone! Get out of here! What is wrong with you?”

Malka, who requested that her last name be withheld for privacy, said she left her home to check on the 39-year-old victim, who was receiving first aid in another neighbor’s home.

“I was home alone with my baby and I saw the shooter running,” Malka said. “I eventually went outside to check on the person who was shot, because I thought it was safe, because the police and paramedics were there. People were walking their dogs, and it seemed like life was back to normal with the police being there.”

The 39-year-old victim, whose name is also being withheld by The Daily Wire to respect his privacy, has been released from the hospital after suffering a gunshot wound to his shoulder. 

Initially the police did not comment on the victim being Jewish, frustrating Malka and other neighbors.

“My gut is telling me that it was a hate crime. It was crazy that he came back, that made me think he was on a suicide mission,” Malka said. “He wanted to kill people and police officers and Jews. He didn’t care about getting killed.”

She added that she was disappointed by other news articles not mentioning that the incident may be a hate crime.

At about 9:55 a.m. shots rang out again after Malka had returned to her home. She immediately grabbed a knife and called the police, saying she thought the shooter was near her house.

“I ran to my window and I saw a guy who was walking his dog crouching by a tree on my property and I opened my door and offered to let him inside,” Malka said, adding that she didn’t realize the shooter was also on her property when she opened the door.

“When I went back inside and looked out the window, I saw the perpetrator shoot at a guy who was running for cover,” she said. “I was worried he was going to come for me because I have a big Israeli flag in front of my house.”

Malka said she has flown an Israeli flag in front of her home since Hamas’ October 7 attack on civilians in southern Israel.

Afterward, Malka looked at her Ring camera footage and noticed the gunman shouting “Allahu Akbar” during the second shooting incident where he reportedly shot at first responders. Ambulances were struck with bullets, according to police.

A Jewish man walking to synagogue was shot in Chicago on Saturday.

Malka shared her security camera footage with The Daily Wire, which captured the shooter screaming “Allahu Akbar” and at first responders when he returned to the scene 20 minutes later. pic.twitter.com/Nck816NsEr

— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) October 28, 2024

The police opened fire at the shooter multiple times, critically wounding him, according to Kevin Bruno, deputy chief of the Chicago Police Department Detectives Bureau.

In a statement released by the Jewish United Fund, Jewish community leaders said they had a meeting with police and local politicians who confirmed the gunman yelled “Allahu Akbar.” 

“CPD has confirmed that while shooting at its officers the suspect, presumably Muslim, shouted out ‘Allahu Akbar.’”

Police plan to add patrols into the neighborhood, the Jewish News Syndicate reported.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson voted in favor of an anti-Israel resolution earlier this year that demanded a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war without mentioning Hamas. Johnson was mocked by critics who said he should be calling for a ceasefire in Chicago.

The Chicago Police Department told The Daily Wire that charges are pending.