Man who fired shots outside Temple Israel synagogue in Albany federally charged.

A man suspected of firing shots outside a synagogue in Albany, New York, hours before the first night of Hanukkah who yelled, "Free Palestine," now faces federal charges, FBI officials confirmed.

Mufid Fawaz Alkhader, 28, was arrested Thursday and charged Friday with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, FBI spokesperson Sarah Ruane confirmed to USA TODAY. The charges carry a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $250,000.

Alkhader's possession of the gun is a chargeable offense because of his unlawful use of marijuana, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York said in a press release on Friday.

Alkhader revealed to police after the incident that he is a regular user of marijuana, according to a criminal complaint obtained by USA TODAY. He also told police in interviews that "events in the Middle East have impacted him."

At an appearance before Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel on Friday morning, Alkhader waived his right to a detention hearing.

U.S. Attorneys for the prosecution Rick Belliss and Alexander Wentworth-Ping did not immediately return a phone request for comment from USA TODAY on Friday afternoon.

Alkhader's attorney Timothy Austin declined a request for comment from USA TODAY.

"Thanks to the swift coordination between the ATF, FBI, and our partners at Albany Police Department and New York State Police, Mufid Fawaz Alkhader has been arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person," Ruane wrote.

What happened at Temple Israel in Albany?

Officers arrested Alkhader on Thursday at around 2 p.m., approximately three minutes after two shots were fired outside Temple Israel, Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins said at a press conference on Thursday. No one was injured in the incident.

Officers detained Alkhader in a parking lot around 300 yards away from the synagogue, Hawkins said.

A transit van driver confronted Alkhader after he fled from the scene, Hawkins said.

Alkhader expressed during the altercation that "he feels that he's being victimized," Hawkins said at a press conference.

"The officers had to physically take the person into custody, and the person was actively resisting the entire time," Hawkins told USA TODAY.

Alkhader was booked into Albany County Sheriff's Department jail. He was interviewed by detectives and the FBI after his arrest, Hawkins said.

Hawkins said authorities are investigating the incident as a hate crime.

"It's not unusual, when we have gun-related crimes, for those crimes to be prosecuted federally," Hawkins said. "I suspect that with the hate crime element added to this that it got their interest."

With the arrest of Alkhader, Hawkins said, the community faces no further threat.

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New York Governor puts law enforcement on high alert

In a statement in response to the shooting, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she had spoken with the rabbi at Temple Israel.

"I am immediately directing the New York State Police and New York National Guard to be on high alert and increase the existing patrols of at-risk sites we had planned for the Hanukkah holiday, including at synagogues, yeshivas and community centers, and working closely with local law enforcement," she said.

"Make no mistake: the safety of Jewish New Yorkers is non-negotiable."

New York Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement that he was briefed on the incident by federal and state law enforcement.

"As our Jewish neighbors begin to celebrate Hanukkah this evening, the New York City Police Department was already and remains on heightened alert to ensure the safety of New Yorkers," he said. "With the start of the holiday, the NYPD is implementing pre-planned measures for elevated security around public Menorah displays and at all lighting events."

Cybele Mayes-Osterman is a breaking news reporter for USA Today. Reach her on email at [email protected]. Follow her on X @CybeleMO.