A man accused of threatening multiple synagogues in Alabama and neighboring states was arrested Tuesday after authorities found a suitcase filled with ammunition, body armor, and several weapons, officials said.
According to the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI and other agencies were alerted to “credible threats of violence” targeting several places of worship. Investigators quickly identified the suspect, who was taken into custody on Tuesday.
A search of his home uncovered firearms, body armor, a suitcase packed with ammunition, and “other items related to the plans of violence,” the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post.
The suspect, identified as 33-year-old Jeremy Wayne Shoemaker, was arrested on local charges of resisting arrest and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Officials said federal charges are likely as the investigation continues. It remains unclear whether Shoemaker will face hate crime charges.
Authorities also noted that Shoemaker “intended not to be taken alive” and may have been planning additional attacks on public officials, though they did not provide further details.
The arrest comes amid a global surge in antisemitic threats and violence. Earlier this month, a car-ramming and stabbing attack outside a synagogue in Manchester, England, left two people dead, just days after a synagogue fire in Florida.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic incidents in the U.S. rose again in 2024 — the fourth consecutive yearly increase — reaching the highest level since the organization began tracking such cases.
CNN reported that it is still working to determine whether Shoemaker has legal representation.
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