The Coast News INLAND EDITION
VOL. 5, N0. 10
.com
VISTA, SAN MARCOS, ESCONDIDO
MAY 3, 2019
Synagogue shooting suspect may be arsonist CSUSM student, 19, also charged in March mosque fire in Escondido City News Service
POWAY MAYOR Steve Vaus embraces Oscar Stewart during a memorial service for shooting victim Lori Gilbert Kaye, 60, on Monday, April 29, at Chabad of Poway. Two days earlier, Stewart, a U.S. Army veteran, chased the shooter out of the synagogue. In addition to Kaye, three people were injured in the attack. More on Page 7. Photo by Jordan P. Ingram
REGION — A young man accused of opening fire inside a Poway synagogue on the last day of Passover with an AR-15-style assault rifle, killing a woman and injuring three other people, including the congregation’s rabbi, pleaded not guilty April 30 to murder and attempted murder charges. John T. Earnest, 19, of Rancho Penasquitos, stood stone-faced during much of the brief court hearing and said little. The not-guilty plea was entered on his behalf by a public defender. The only word Earnest uttered was “yes,”when asked if he agreed to a longer-than-usual delay before his next court hearing. That hearing was set for May 30. Prosecutors allege Earnest, a student at Cal State University San Marcos, entered the synagogue armed with a semi-automatic rifle and clad in a tactical vest
carrying five 10-round magazines. He fired between eight to 10 rounds before the gun either jammed or malfunctioned, leading him to flee the scene in his car, according to prosecutors, who said Earnest legally purchased the rifle. In addition to charges stemming from the April 27 shooting, Earnest is also charged with arson of a house of worship for allegedly trying to burn down an Escondido mosque on March 24. He allegedly took responsibility for setting the non-injury fire at the Islamic Center of Escondido in a manifesto posted online before Saturday’s synagogue shooting. The Poway shooting occurred exactly six months after a shooting rampage at a Pittsburgh synagogue, where 11 people were gunned down. The hate crime allegaTURN TO SHOOTING ON 7
Film earns Vista students a trip to NYC By Steve Puterski
VISTA — Looking through the lens of her father, Vista High School sophomore Zahlia Alcala found a vision. So she, along with Vista High sophomore Odalis Ramirez and Vista Visions Academy sophomore Melissa Ramirez, turned her father’s journey from immigrant, to successful businessman and eventual college graduate into a compelling five-minute documentary film titled “El Sueño Americano!” (The American Dream).
And the result was being awarded one of the top honors for high school film students, the Panasonic KWN New Vision Award and a trip for the trio to New York City. “I thought of my dad because of all the hard work he does,” Zahlia Alcala said. “I introduced it to the club and they all thought it was a good idea.” The three budding filmmakers started the project in January, showcasing Ignacio Alcala’s journey from Mexico to the U.S.,
his struggles with learning a new language, finding work, building a business and raising a family. Perhaps most importantly, though, was his drive to earn his high school GED, and attend and graduate from MiraCosta College while juggling all those responsibilities. The film begins with Zahlia Alcala speaking to the audience about this man, who is not revealed VISTA HIGH SCHOOL sophomores Zahlia Alcala, from left, and Odalis to be her father until near the end. Ramirez and Vista Visions Academy sophomore Melissa Ramirez won
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TURN TO FILM STUDENTS ON 16
the Panasonic KWN New Vision Award and a trip to New York City for the ceremony. Photo courtesy Lisa Contreras/Vista Unified School District
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