Man charged with hate crime after shooting Israeli tourists he thought were Palestinians: police
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) — A man accused of shooting two Israeli tourists in Miami Beach who he assumed were Palestinians is now charged with a hate crime.
Mordechai Brafman, 27, faces up to life in prison on hate crime related charges connected to the Feb. 15 incident, according to a report from NBC affiliate WTVJ.
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Police said Brafman shot at a car carrying Yaron Rabi and Ari Rabi, a father and son visiting South Florida from Israel. Ari Rabi was shot in the shoulder and his father's forearm was grazed by a bullet.
After the shooting, which police said was unprovoked, Brafman 'spontaneously stated that while he was driving his truck, he saw two (2) Palestinians and shot and killed both,' according to a police report.
Brafman's attorney Dustin Tischler told WTVJ the father and son were reaching for a weapon and Brafman was simply defending himself. A doctor declared Brafman incompetent to stand trial, but a second opinion is needed before a judge can weigh in.
Tischler denied the shooting was motivated by hate. Brafman pleaded not guilty to the charges and remained in jail on Tuesday.
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