A Florida man has been arrested for allegedly shooting at an Israeli father and son, claiming he believed they were Palestinian. The unprovoked attack occurred Saturday night on Pine Tree Drive, leaving the victims injured but thankfully alive.
According to the arrest report, 27-year-old Mordechai Brafman of Miami was captured on surveillance video driving erratically before stopping his truck directly in front of the victim’s vehicle. Brafman then exited his truck and fired 17 shots at the passing car, striking the driver in the shoulder and grazing his son’s arm.
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Police apprehended Brafman shortly after the incident. During his arrest, he reportedly stated that he had “seen two Palestinians and shot and killed both.” However, the victims, Ari Revay and his father, confirmed to Local 10 News that they are Israeli.
“It was a truck passing next to (us),” Ari Revay recounted in Hebrew. “‘Boom, boom, boom’ and he randomly started shooting. He put the window down, driver’s seat and just blasted (us).”
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Revay’s father, who was driving, narrowly escaped serious injury as a bullet passed close to his ear. “God, life is a gift,” said Ari Revay, expressing gratitude for their survival.
Brafman is facing two charges of attempted second-degree murder. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, but Brafman’s alleged statement suggests a possible hate crime.
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