Jewish Dentist Killed, 2 Others Wounded by Arab Patient in El Cajon

By Miriam Raftery
East County Magazine

EL CAJON, California – Multiple Jewish media outlets report that the man killed at the Smile Plus Dentistry & Orthodontics clinic in  El Cajon late Thursday was Dr. Benjamin Harouni, an Orthodox Jew at the clinic run by Harouni and his father. Authorities have not yet confirmed the victim’s identity, however the Jewish publication Yeshiva World first published his name along with a photo confirming that Misakim members from  Los Angeles spent the evening at the scene watching over the body to assure that Jewish law was respected.  Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) has also named Harouni as the fatality victim.

The shooting suspect, Mohammed Abdulkareem,29, was arrested after an intensive manhunt. He has been charged with murder and two counts of attempted murder, for two other workers who were injured.  El Cajon Police have indicated the suspect was a disgruntled former patient, but an investigation into his motives continues, with speculations raised online over whether these may have been antisemitic hate crimes.

The carnage might have been worse, if not for a swift response by El Cajon Police. After receiving reports of gunshots in the clinic at 4:14 p.m., officers arrived two minutes later and found the three gunshot victims, an ECPD press release indicates.  According to Yeshiva World, Harouni “was found inside the office as the shooting was still ongoing and was taken outside by officers, where they attempted to perform lifesaving measures,” however he died at the scene.

A front office worker, Yareli Carillo,28, was shot in the legs, her father, Jose Antonio, told NBC 7. The third victim was a man in his 40s, who has not yet been named.  He was also transported to a hospital and is expected to survive.

The suspect fled the scene in a white U-Haul pickup truck he had rented earlier in the day.  El Cajon’s  Flock GPT camera system identified the getaway vehicle. Shortly after 9 p.m.,  ECPC sent out images of the suspect and the pickup on social media.  About an hour later, a witness spotted the pickup truck parked near Sixth Avenue and Quince in the vicinity of Balboa Park in San Diego.  San Diego Police found Abdulkareem in the area soon after and arrested him. He was armed with a loaded handgun and several handgun magazines, all purchased legally two weeks before the shooting, according to Captain Royal Bates with ECPD.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has joined in the investigation, as is customary if a federal offense is suspected.

ECM has asked ECPD and the FBI whether the shootings are being investigated as hate crimes, but they have not yet responded.

Fabienne Perlov, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, commented: “ADL is aware of the tragic murder of a member of the Jewish community in El Cajon and feel the deepest sympathy for his family and the families of the other victims who were shot.  We are in contact with law enforcement who share that currently, there is no indication of the murder being motivated by antisemitism.  ADL’s Center on Extremism has also not identified any extremist-or-hate-related motivation behind the shootings at this point.  We will update the community as we learn more.”

“The El Cajon Police Department mourns with the family and friends of the deceased victim and extends heartfelt condolences to those injured in yesterday’s senseless and evil act of violence,” ECPD Chief Mike Moulton said in a statement issued Friday. “I would like to extend my gratitude to our local, state, and national law enforcement partners who assisted us during this tragic event.”  The Chief thanked the FBI’s local field office for providing  “a tremendous amount of support during the investigation and processing of the crime scene.”

Other agencies involved include the U.S. Marshall Service Fugitive Task Force, La Mesa Police, San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, San Diego County District Attorney’s office, ATF San Diego, and San Diego Police.

Little information is yet available about the suspect. A Linked-In profile under this name locally indicates he worked in food service.  A Facebook page under his name is blocked to non-friends.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call El Cajon Police at (619) 579-3311 or to leave an anonymous tip, call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477 or visit SDCrimestoppers.org.

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Miriam Raftery is the publisher and editor of East County Magazine, with which San Diego Jewish World trades stories under auspices of the San Diego Online News Association.