A Miami man is under arrest after mistaking two Israeli Jews for Palestinians and shooting at them, police confirmed.
Miami man shoots pair out of racism
Authorities charged Mordechai Brafman, aged 27, with two counts of attempted murder following the shooting of Ari Rabi and his father in Miami Beach over the weekend.
According to the arrest report, Brafman told officers that he believed the victims were Palestinian.
At around 9.30 PM on Saturday, Brafman reportedly encountered the pair on Alton Road. WSVN revealed that Brafman stopped, exited his vehicle, and fired multiple shots before driving to a nearby residence. Officers quickly apprehended him at that location.
Surveillance video allegedly captures the harrowing incident, showing Rabi and his father arriving at an apartment complex and urgently trying to enter as gunshots rang out.
Police said Brafman discharged 17 rounds in total. Video footage of the victims’ car reveals it riddled with bullet holes.
Rabi later recounted the terrifying episode to CBS News. “Boom, boom, boom. got hit in the shoulder,” he told the outlet, explaining that only one bullet struck him, while his father sustained a graze wound on his left forearm.
“Some guy thought we were Palestinians and just started shooting. Seventeen bullets, only one hit … Thank God for life,” Rabi said.
He added, “It doesn’t matter who you are, what religion you are, or where you’re from. People should just live in peace.”
Victim of Miami man posts his own racist views
Shortly after the attack, Rabi posted on Facebook, referring to the ordeal as an attempt on his life against the backdrop of antisemitism, but his message also included the phrase “death to the Arabs,” which has since come under fire.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), particularly its Florida branch, demanded federal hate crime charges be filed in response to the shooting.
Nihad Awad, CAIR’s national executive director, commented, “It is deeply ironic and telling that both the alleged pro-Israel perpetrator and the pro-Israel victim in the Miami Beach shooting reportedly hold racist anti-Palestinian views.”
“Policymakers in our nation should stop fomenting the anti-Palestinian hate that led to the genocide in Gaza and to hate crimes in America,” Awad added.
Local news revealed that Brafman wore a suicide prevention vest during his initial court appearance on Monday and remains in custody without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade County.
His legal counsel, Dustin Tischler, told the Miami Herald that his client had been in the midst of a severe mental health crisis at the time of the incident.
” It is believed that his ability to make sound judgments was significantly compromised.” Tischler stated.
“We are fully cooperating with law enforcement officials and acknowledge the seriousness of the allegations,” he noted, adding, “We are deeply relieved that the victims are safe.”
Charges dropped against racially-fueled Miami attack
Meanwhile, in an unrelated case, Florida prosecutors recently dropped all charges against Michael Nixon, a Virginia tourist accused of racially abusing and assaulting a Miami Beach bartender.
Officials said Nixon faced allegations of launching into an anti-Hispanic tirade, invoking pro-Trump sentiments and verbally attacking the bartender over language use. However, prosecutors confirmed the victim opted not to press charges.
“No action will be taken,” Assistant State Attorney Sophiea Bailey stated in a memo. “The victim stated that he and the establishment did not want to go forward with the charges.”
This decision came after Nixon allegedly hurled insults at the Norman’s Tavern bartender and refused to settle his $130 tab.
Citing video evidence, the police described Nixon yelling, “America — English, b—-! English! F—ing Trump’s going to deport your ass. … You f—ing Cuban b—-.”
He was asked to leave by staff due to his “increasing(ly) aggressive behavior,” in an effort to “prevent further physical assaults.”
However, he “intentionally struck” the bartender by “forcefully moving his body forward, specifically his left shoulder, towards (him),” on his way out. The bartender allegedly hit Nixon back.
Eventually, police detained Nixon, but during court proceedings, Bailey highlighted the victim’s reluctance to proceed as the reason for dismissing the case.
“The victim stated he was not hurt and did not want to deal with the incident any further,” the prosecutor wrote. “I explained to the victim that if he did not want to go forward, I would (not) press charges and the case would end.”
