El Centro agent praised for heroic actions at synagogue shooting
Jonathan Morales, the off duty Border Patrol agent who was one of the two individuals that took action against the shooter who opened fire on a synagogue near San Diego, was a member of a local synagogue in El Centro.
According to Yisroel Goldstein, Rabbi of the Congregation Chabad in Poway, Morales had been at the synagogue near San Diego to pray with the congregation on the last day of Passover.
The rabbi said he previously told Morales to arm himself when he comes to their congregation. He recalled telling Morales, “we never know when we will need it.”
He did this past Sunday when a 19-year old shooter came into the synagogue and opened fire.
“Miraculously, miraculously, the gun jammed and in attendance at the synagogue, there was a Border Patrol off-duty agent, Mr. Jonathan Morales,” said Goldstein.
Oscar Stewart, an Army veteran, chased the shooter to his car and that’s when Stewart said Morales took over.
Stewart recalled, “We were outside already. I’d already chased him to his vehicle. At this point, the Border Patrol agent came out and said, ‘Clear back I have a gun.’ And then I moved back behind the vehicle and he discharged into the vehicle.”
On its Facebook page, the Congregation Beth Jacob confirmed Morales was a member and shot back at the shooter. El Centro resident Alexis Gonzales is glad to know there’s a hero in her community.
“It makes me feel a little bit safer where I’m at. Knowing that there’s people out there off duty or whoever is willing to put their lives at risk to help other people. It’s unfortunate anything like this would happen,” Gonzales said.
Pastor John Jones, of Valley Christian Church in Imperial, said the recent attacks on religion have put an emphasis on maintaining the safety of worshippers.
Jones said, “We again have made steps to try and make sure that this place is a place where people can feel comfortable and feel like they’re safe to come and worship. We use to have an open door policy. Now we have those locked just as soon as church starts and have someone that’s stationed around in the foyers.”
Attempts for further comment from Customs and Border Protection officials and the Congregation of Beth Jacob were unsuccessful.
