13-Year-Old Boy Accused of Planning Heinous Attack

13-Year-Old Boy Accused of Planning Heinous Attack

(RepublicanPress.org) – According to the Gun Violence Archive, the United States has experienced 638 mass shootings in 2023 — so far. That number could have ticked up even further had it not been for law enforcement’s intervention. The national “If you see something, say something,” campaign from the Department of Homeland Security was recently put into action and possibly saved lives.

On December 13, WKYC 3 News reported that a 13-year-old boy in Ohio was allegedly planning to shoot up the Temple Israel synagogue in Canton. According to court documents obtained by the news outlet, the teen was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and inducing panic — two misdemeanor offenses. He posted his plans in a Discord chat, and someone reported him to the police, thwarting his alleged plans. Discord is an online communication platform typically used for gaming.

The New York Post reported that police became aware of the plot on September 1, so the potential attack wasn’t a result of the Hamas-Israeli war. The Anti-Defamation League of Cleveland posted about the ordeal on social media, stating it doesn’t matter if “hate and threats” are online or in person; they “cannot and will not be tolerated.” When the Post reached out to the synagogue’s rabbi, he reportedly declined to comment because the suspect is 13.

Although this particular incident didn’t happen in the wake of the conflict in the Middle East, the ADL recently reported that antisemitic incidents have skyrocketed since Hamas attacked Israel. Those can include physical assaults, vandalism, rallies, and verbal or written harassment. Over just two months, the organization recorded over 2,000 antisemitic incidents, compared to 465 for the same period in 2022. A map detailing antisemitic acts since October 7 shows heavy activity along the Northeast with a heavy sprinkling in Ohio.

The suspect is due to appear in Stark County Family Court on December 20 for a pretrial hearing.

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