Gun Plot to Target Jewish Daycare Foiled by Background Check, Michigan Man Pleads Guilty

Hassan Chokr, a 35-year-old Dearborn, Michigan resident, has pleaded guilty to federal gun charges after attempting to illegally purchase assault weapons to target a Jewish daycare at Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills. In December 2022, while out on bail, Chokr drove through the synagogue’s parking lot, hurling anti-Semitic slurs like “You are all going to die!” and “F— you, Israel” at parents and pre-schoolers, before heading to a local gun shop to buy a Del-Ton AR-15-style rifle, a Landor Arms automatic shotgun, and a Glock pistol. His plan was thwarted when a background check revealed a 2017 felony theft conviction and a pending assault charge, which he lied about on the application, claiming no criminal history.

Chokr’s chilling intent was clear as he told gun store staff, “It ain’t a fair fight out there,” vowing to “even the score” and “even the playing field real soon brothers, real soon,” while stating the weapons were for “God’s wrath.” U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. described the attempt as part of a broader plot “to follow through on his menacing threats against parents and pre-schoolers as they walked into a place of worship.” Chokr’s Instagram posts further exposed his hatred, with one reading, “Your Jew tactics will only backfire… A storm is coming to wipe you all out of our lives.”

Facing up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, Chokr, previously diagnosed with schizoaffective and antisocial personality disorders, will be sentenced on September 24, 2025. His actions reflect a disturbing rise in anti-Semitic violence in the U.S., with 9,354 incidents reported in 2024. Chokr’s disruptive behaviour continued in court, where he exposed himself to a judge in 2022. “The federal government must do everything in its power to stem the rising tide of antisemitism,” Gorgon stated, emphasizing, “We will not allow anyone to terrorize our Jewish neighbors.” This case underscores the urgent need to protect Jewish communities from hate-driven threats.