1999 Los Angeles Jewish Community Center shooting

Mass shooting in California, U.S. June 2025 July 2022 Los Angeles Jewish Community Center shooting Antisemitism First shooting: Granada Hills, Los Angeles, California, United StatesSecond shooting: Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, United States 34.2797 -118.4941 inline,title August 10, 1999 10:50 a.m. UTC-7 Spree shooting, carjacking, hate crime, mass shooting, school shooting 1 5 Buford O. Furrow Jr. (Aryan Nations) * Uzi-type submachine gun Glock 26 semi-automatic pistol On August 10, 1999, at around 10:50 a.m. PT, American white supremacist Buford O. Furrow Jr. walked into the lobby of the North Valley Jewish Community Center in the Granada Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, United States, and opened fire with an Uzi sub machine gun, firing 70 bullets into the complex. The gunfire wounded five people: three children, a teenage counselor, and an office worker. Shortly thereafter, Furrow murdered a mail carrier, fled the state, and finally surrendered to the authorities. History Buford O'Neal Furrow Jr. (born November 25, 1961) grew up in Lacey, Washington, and graduated from Western Washington University in 1986, with a degree in engineering. During the 1980s, he worked for Boeing and Northrop Grumman and in the 1990s, became involved with white supremacist Richard Girnt Butler's movement, where he was part of the security detail at Butler's Hayden Lake, Idaho, compound.Davis Danny W. The Phinehas Priesthood: Violent Vanguard of the Christian Identity Movement 2010 Praeger Security International 978-0313365362 181 Months prior to the shooting, Furrow had been treated for mental illness while in the custody of the state of Washington.New York Times, August 14, 1999 "Racist Shootings Test Limits Of Health System, and Laws" He had been married to Debbie MathewsHong Peter Y. Ellingwood Ken August 15, 1999 Accused L.A. killer chose hate group's hometown https://www.newspapers.com/image/403471056/ 2024-02-20 Newspapers.com A4 en (the widow of Robert Jay Mathews, the deceased neo-Nazi terrorist who founded The Order), whom he had met at the Aryan Nations headquarters in Idaho.http://www.adl.org/backgrounders/an_phineas.asp ADL Backgrounder - the Order and Phineas Priesthood December 19, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111229045943/http://www.adl.org/backgrounders/an_phineas.asp December 29, 2011 dead Events On August 7, Furrow bought a used red Chevrolet van in Tacoma, Washington and loaded it with five rifles, two pistols, 6,000 rounds of ammunition and a flak jacket. Furrow considered attacking three Jewish institutions: the Skirball Cultural Center, the American Jewish University and the Simon Wiesenthal Center's Museum of Tolerance, but the presence of armed guards deterred him."The Kids Got In The Way: All the warning signs were there, but still Buford Furrow got his hands on guns and went on a rampage." Time. 154.8. August 23, 1999. p24."A Visitor from the Dark Side: The accused L.A. gunner drove into town on a high of delusion and self-destruction." Newsweek. 134.9. August 23, 1999. p32. Furrow proceeded to drive again from Washington to the San Fernando Valley with the stated purpose of "killing Jews". Three days later, Furrow pulled off the freeway into the Granada Hills area of Los Angeles and made his way to the North Valley Jewish Community Center just before 11 a.m. There were about 250 children playing outside,"Suspect in L.A. Shootings Surrenders in Las Vegas -- He may be charged in second gun attack." The Seattle Times. August 11, 1999. pA1. when Furrow walked into the lobby carrying an Uzi-type submachine-gun."Separatist in fed court." United Press International. August 31, 1999. He opened fire, spraying bullets from right to left, leaving smoke and more than 70 casings on the ground, leaving a receptionist, a camp counselor and three boys wounded. Furrow fled the scene in his van. Twenty minutes later, he carjacked a woman's Toyota at gunpoint, left the van behind, and then dumped the Toyota at a Chatsworth motel.: "Manhunt; Police on suspect's trail after children are gunned down in school." Birmingham Evening Mail. August 11, 1999. p13. The shootings ended with the death of USPS postal worker Joseph Santos Ileto (born March 19, 1960) in Chatsworth, a few miles away from the center. Ileto had just delivered mail to a home and was returning to his postal truck when Furrow asked Ileto to mail a letter for him. As Ileto agreed, Furrow pulled out a Glock 9mm handgunWeinstein, Henry. "Slain Postman's Mother Can Sue Weapon Makers." Los Angeles Times May 29, 2004: B1. and shot Ileto nine times. Later, he would confess that he murdered Ileto because he thought Ileto was Latino or Asian (Ileto was Filipino American), because Ileto was a federal employee.The Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California. Retrieved August 3, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20051218175134/http://apalc.org/iletoevent/iletomurder.php December 18, 2005 "Joined Against Hate Crimes Families of Victims Speak Out About Gun Violence". Daily News. August 11, 2004. pN4.http://www.cnn.com/US/9908/12/california.shooting.03// August 12, 1999 L.A. shooting suspect charged with hate crimes CNN Police found Furrow's abandoned van, where they discovered a cache of ammunition, rifle magazines, bulletproof vests, homemade explosives, a Ranger Handbook, and freeze-dried food. Two books by Richard Kelly Hoskins, a Lynchburg, Virginia, leader of the Christian Identity movement were also found; a copy of the book War Cycles, Peace Cycles, and Vigilantes of Christendom: The Story of the Phineas Priesthood, a book which according to the Anti-Defamation League justifies antisemitic and racist acts of violence.Seper, Jerry. (August 13, 1999). "Close eye kept on U.S. hate groups: Monitors had large file on suspect." The Washington Times. p12. Furrow fled 275-miles in an $800 taxi ride from Los Angeles, California, to Las Vegas, Nevada, ending the manhunt by walking into an FBI office to confess, saying "You're looking for me, I killed the kids in Los Angeles." Furrow also stated that he wanted his shooting to be "a wakeup call to America to kill Jews.""Shooting suspect gives up White supremacist held in L.A. attack." The Florida Times-Union. August 11, 1999. pA-1. Victims The injured included a 5-year-old boy, Benjamin Kadish, who was hit in the abdomen and leg, losing 50 percent of his blood; two 6-year-old boys, Joshua Stepakoff, who was hit in the leg and hip; and James Zidell, who was hit in the heel; a 16-year-old girl, Mindy Finkelstein, who was hit in her right thigh and shin; and 68-year-old receptionist Isabelle Shalometh, who was grazed on the arm and back.BARBER PHIL 2022-05-30 ‘It’s not over’: For this survivor of gun violence, a lifetime of fear, confusion and advocacy https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/for-this-survivor-the-fear-never-goes-away/ https://archive.today/20250620130814/https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/for-this-survivor-the-fear-never-goes-away/ June 20, 2025 2025-06-20 The Press Democrat en-USX 1999-08-13 Two Young Victims Leave Hospitals, Others Continue to Improve https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-aug-13-mn-65262-story.html https://archive.today/20250620130827/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-aug-13-mn-65262-story.html June 20, 2025 2025-06-20 Los Angeles Times en-US Joseph Ileto died of multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and one to the back of the head. He was found dead in a driveway. At Ileto's funeral, messages of condolence from numerous politicians were read by Congressman Brad Sherman.http://www.cnn.com/US/9908/15/california.shooting.01/index.html August 15, 1999 Postal worker Joseph Ileto mourned as President Clinton sends condolences CNN Of the five people injured in the shooting at the Community Center, all eventually recovered.http://archives.cnn.com/2001/LAW/01/24/furrow.plea.crim/ January 24, 2001 Furrow pleads guilty to shootings, will avoid death penalty, get life without parole CNN February 28, 2008 August 12, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090812104334/http://archives.cnn.com/2001/LAW/01/24/furrow.plea.crim/ dead Benjamin Kadish, the 5-year-old boy, was the most seriously injured victim. Upon arriving at the Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, "He had no blood pressure, no pulse, so that would put you at the most critical condition you could possibly be in," according to the emergency room physician, but Kadish was eventually stabilized after six hours of surgery. Kadish was released from the hospital on September 23, 1999, approximately one month after the shooting.http://www.cnn.com/US/9909/23/jcc.shooting.victim.01/index.html September 23, 1999 Boy who almost died in L.A. shooting goes home CNN Reaction The shooting prompted a national movement, the Million Mom March, which culminated in dozens of marches across the U.S. on Mother's Day 2000, calling for increased gun control. The Southern California Regional Million Mom March, which was held at the birthplace of Los Angeles, Olvera Street, brought more than 10,000 "mothers and others" from five counties together demanding change and protection for children against gun violence. Marches were held in major cities, including the main March in Washington, D.C. In 2004, on the fifth anniversary of the shootings, families of the victims and local officials called for stricter gun control and hate crime legislation. Ismael Ileto, Joseph's brother, said: "We miss him very much... and we cannot understand why someone would take the life of my brother. He was just doing his job when he was killed." Ileto was honored by having a post office in Chino Hills, California, named for him.http://asianweek.com/2000_04_27/feature_topnewshistory.html https://web.archive.org/web/20071224171451/http://asianweek.com/2000_04_27/feature_topnewshistory.html From News to History: Stories from the Pages of AsianWeek AsianWeek December 24, 2007 Sentencing of Furrow Initially, Furrow pleaded not guilty to a federal charge of murder in killing Ileto and state charges of attempted murder for shooting the five people in the Jewish center, although he reportedly confessed to the shootings in interviews with detectives. Prosecutors in the case, who said Furrow admitted to his crimes stating they were motivated by racial hatred, promised to seek the death penalty if the case went to trial, which led to a lengthy legal battle with Furrow's defense team. The case was further complicated by defense claims that Furrow suffered from serious psychiatric problems.http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1025815438621_21224638/ https://web.archive.org/web/20090811071948/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1025815438621_21224638/ dead August 11, 2009 January 24, 2001 Hate killer enters guilty plea, avoids death penalty CTV News On January 24, 2001, Furrow pleaded guilty to all of the 16 felony counts against him (which include a murder charge for the shooting of Ileto, six counts of civil rights violations and nine weapons charges). In exchange for pleading guilty, Furrow avoided a possible death sentence, but instead agreed to be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. According to the indictment, Furrow expressed no regrets for any of his crimes. On March 26, 2001, at his sentencing hearing, Furrow was sentenced to two consecutive life terms, plus 110 additional years, without the possibility of parole and was ordered to pay $690,294.11 in restitution to victims' families and insurance companies. United States District Court Judge Nora Manella excoriated Furrow during the proceeding, saying, "Your actions were a stark and brutal reminder that bigotry is alive, if not well."http://edition.cnn.com/2001/LAW/03/26/buford.furrow/index.html March 26, 2001 Jewish Center gunman gets 2 life sentences CNN Dree DeClamecy In 2009, Furrow claimed to have renounced racism and neo-Nazism. He is currently incarcerated in a federal prison in Minnesota.Modesti Kevin September 6, 2009 JCC shooter Furrow renounces past beliefs https://www.dailynews.com/20090906/jcc-shooter-furrow-renounces-past-beliefs Los Angeles Daily News See also Crime California Judaism Antisemitism in the United States Crime in California List of attacks on Jewish institutions List of mass shootings in the United States (1900–1999) References Category:1999 in Judaism Category:1999 in Los Angeles Category:1999 mass shootings in the United States Category:1999 murders in the United States Category:20th-century attacks on Jewish institutions in the United States Category:Antisemitic attacks and incidents in California Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in 1999 Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in California Category:August 1999 crimes in the United States Category:1990s crimes in California Category:Deaths by firearm in California Category:Granada Hills, Los Angeles Category:Jewish-American history in Los Angeles Category:Mass shootings in California Category:Mass shootings involving semi-automatic pistols in the United States Category:Murder in Los Angeles Category:Race and crime in the United States Category:Racially motivated violence against Asian Americans in California Category:Spree shootings in the United States Category:Neo-fascist terrorist incidents in the United States Category:Aryan Nations Category:School shootings in California Category:Terrorist incidents in California Category:Terrorist incidents in the United States in 1999 Category:White nationalism in California Category:Attacks on religious buildings and structures in the 1990s Category:Mass shootings in schools