NJ attorney general: Jersey City attack being investigated as 'domestic terrorism'

New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said Thursday that social media postings appear to show the Jersey City shooters held anti-Jewish and anti-law enforcement beliefs.

News 12 Staff

Dec 12, 2019, 6:34 PM

Updated 1,688 days ago

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New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said Thursday that social media postings appear to show the Jersey City shooters held anti-Jewish and anti-law enforcement beliefs. 
Grewal held a news conference this afternoon, providing the public with updates into their investigation of Tuesday’s deadly shooting in Jersey City.
The attorney general has confirmed the following about the investigation:
Law enforcement has recovered five firearms to date that are linked to the two deceased shooters, David Anderson and Francine Graham. Four of them were recovered inside the JC Kosher Supermarket, and one was found inside the U-Haul van parked out front.
An AR-15 style weapon was recovered inside the store, which Anderson is believed to have been firing as he entered the supermarket. A Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun was also recovered, which they believe Graham was carrying as she entered the supermarket.
A 9 mm Ruger semi-automatic firearm and a 9 mm Glock 17 were recovered. Inside the U-Haul, a 22-caliber Ruger Mark IV, with a homemade silencer, and a homemade device to catch the shell casings.
Using serial numbers found on the firearms, two of the weapons, the shotgun and the 22-caliber Ruger Mark IV, were purchased by Graham at separate gun shops in Ohio in the spring of 2018.
 
Several hundred shell castings were also recovered at the scene.
Officials believe the three civilians killed were shot within minutes as the shooters entered the store. A fourth civilian ran from the store, and the shooters shot at him as he left the store. Within minutes of taking the store, the shooters began firing at law enforcement, who responded on foot and by patrol car.
At this point, evidence suggests the shooters were aiming their fire at law enforcement only, and not at others on the street.
Five autopsies were completed Wednesday, and one was being done today.
Officials have identified a number of social media accounts of the shooters, and based on what they have collected, the shooters held views that reflected hatred of the Jewish community and law enforcement.
The shooters also may have been connected to Black Hebrew Israelites movement, but officials have not established any formal link.
Right now, they believe they were acting on their own.
Grewal says they are committed to providing the public with information that is accurate.
AP wire services helped contribute to this report.
Watch the entire press conference
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WATCH: Authorities hold news conference on Jersey City shooting

WATCH: Gov. Murphy thanks police for response during Jersey City shootout
WATCH: Mayor Fulop: No question Jersey City shooting was a hate crime


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