Police says Florida rabbi's killing not a hate crime
After North Miami Beach rabbi was murdered Saturday, police claim that unlike initial suspicions, his death was a botched robbery, unrelated to his Jewish identity, Israel's operation in Gaza.
Miami-Dade police spokeswoman Elena Hernandez says there is no indication that the Saturday shooting of 60-year-old Joseph Raksin was a hate crime.
Authorities have not released a motive, but the Anti-Defamation League says it has been in close contact with lead investigators and the crime appears to be a robbery gone badly.
Police are searching for two young suspects. One was apparently on a bicycle and the other on foot.
Yona Lunger is a local Jewish community activist and member of a neighborhood watch group. He told the Miami Herald that Raksin was from Brooklyn and was in Florida to visit relatives.
Miami-Dade police told NBC that officers were searching for two suspects related to the shooting and as of Saturday night the police had yet to find direct evidence that the shooting was an anti-Semitic hate crime.
The NBC eport also added that Raksin had been airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital where he passed away after a 9am encouter with two young men.
Police told NBC that the two suspects shot their victim and fled the crime scene. One was on a bicycle and the other on foot.
Anti-Semitic acts have been a rising concern recently, mostly during pro-Palestinian protests in Europe and other places in the world.
