| Published June 5, 2025
“Indicated that he would ‘even the score’ and use the guns for ‘God’s wrath.’”
Hassan Chokr, a 35-year-old resident of Dearborn, Michigan, engaged in a series of alarming actions that culminated in federal charges and a guilty plea. Chokr drove through the parking lot of Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills, a suburb of Detroit, where he shouted antisemitic threats at parents and their preschool-aged children. His outbursts included statements like “You are all going to die!” and “F— you, Israel”.
Shortly after this incident, Chokr visited a gun store in Dearborn, where he attempted to purchase three firearms: a 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun, a 5.56mm rifle, and a 9mm semi-automatic pistol. While handling these weapons, he made disturbing remarks about using them for “God’s wrath” and to “even the score.” Chokr falsely claimed on the federal firearms form that he had no prior felony convictions, despite a 2017 felony theft conviction and pending assault charges . The background check flagged his criminal history, preventing the sale.
On May 28, 2025, Chokr pleaded guilty to federal charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and lying on a federal firearms form. He faces up to 15 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for September 24 . Interim U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. emphasized the gravity of Chokr’s actions, stating, “Chokr’s attempt to purchase several deadly firearms in an apparent attempt to follow through on his menacing threats against parents and preschoolers as they walked into a place of worship represents every American’s worst nightmare”.
This case underscores the persistent threat posed by hate-fueled individuals and the importance of vigilant law enforcement efforts to prevent potential acts of violence against vulnerable communities.
Hassan Chokr, 35, was out on bail when he drove through the parking lot of Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills and shouted antisemitic slurs and threats.Oakland County Jail
Shortly after his antisemitic rant, he drove to a gun shop in his nearby hometown of Dearborn.Carlson, Frances (USAMIE), Carlson, Frances (USAMIE)
He tried to buy three semiautomatic weapons but he had a prior felony conviction from 2017.Carlson, Frances (USAMIE), Carlson, Frances (USAMIE)
The gun store owner also overheard Chokr say that he intended to use the weapons for “God’s wrath.”Carlson, Frances (USAMIE), Carlson, Frances (USAMIE)
The case of Hassan Chokr carries several serious implications on legal, social, and national security fronts:
1. National Security & Domestic Terrorism Concerns
Chokr’s actions reveal the persistent threat of homegrown extremism. His antisemitic threats and attempt to acquire firearms signal a potential lone-wolf terror scenario—emphasizing the need for proactive counterterrorism strategies focused not just on foreign actors but on radicalized individuals within U.S. borders.
2. Gun Control Loopholes
Despite being a convicted felon, Chokr managed to begin the process of acquiring deadly weapons. While the background check ultimately stopped the sale, the incident highlights vulnerabilities in the system—particularly the reliance on self-reporting in federal forms (Form 4473), and how quickly intent can escalate before a background check is completed.
3. Antisemitism in the U.S.
The event underscores the ongoing rise of antisemitism across the country. Threats targeting Jewish institutions—especially children—expose the urgent need for enhanced protection at religious and educational facilities. It also adds pressure on community leaders and lawmakers to address hate crimes more decisively.
4. Legal Precedents for Hate-Driven Threats
Chokr’s conviction and possible 15-year sentence could serve as a deterrent and set precedent. Prosecutors emphasized the combination of hate-based threats and illegal firearm attempts as an aggravated offense, signaling stricter consequences for similar future acts.
5. Mental Health and Radicalization
There are implications for evaluating how mental instability and ideological radicalization interact. This case calls for better systems of early intervention when individuals with criminal records exhibit threatening behavior, especially online or in public religious spaces.
Overall Takeaway:
The Hassan Chokr case is a stark reminder of how quickly hate-fueled rhetoric can escalate into a potential act of mass violence. It exposes critical weaknesses in gun control enforcement, highlights the growing threat of antisemitism in the U.S., and underscores the need for stronger preventive measures—both in law enforcement and community awareness. Chokr’s arrest likely prevented a tragedy, but it also serves as a chilling wake-up call about the dangers of unchecked hate and loopholes in firearm purchase systems.
SOURCES: DAILYWIRE – Muslim Felon Threatened Jewish Preschoolers Then Tried To Buy Guns: DOJ
THE NEW YORK POST – Michigan antisemite plotted to massacre kids at Jewish daycare, tried to buy assault weapons to use for ‘God’s wrath’: feds
JNS – Dearborn man, who threatened Jewish preschoolers, pleads guilty to gun charge
THE TIMES OF ISRAEL – Michigan man who harassed parents, kids near synagogue pleads guilty to gun crime
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