The violent rampage that began in a Jersey City, New Jersey cemetery and continued at a kosher supermarket claimed the lives of JCPD Detective Joseph Seals and three other civilians in the supermarket, at least two of whom were members of the local Hasidic Jewish community. 

We now know that New Jersey officials believe the two shooters were motivated by bias against Jews and the police, and that the crime is being investigated as an act of domestic terrorism. The shooting marks the third time in less than 14 months that someone targeted a Jewish community institution in the United States.

We are saddened and outraged that once again, Jews were targeted simply for being Jewish. We are eternally grateful to law enforcement officers who, at the cost of their own lives, ran toward danger to protect Jewish people, and we extend our gratitude to investigators for pursuing this case with the kind of vigor that will ensure justice is served for the victims and the victimized communities. May the victims’ memories forever be a blessing, and may those wounded heal quickly and completely. 

At this point in time there is no known threat to the Jewish community in Cincinnati.