Ari Rabey Miami Obituary, Cause of Death; Ari Rabey and his Father Shot in Miami Beach: Mordechai Brafman Arrested

A Jewish man in Miami Beach has been arrested and charged with two counts of attempted murder after firing multiple shots at a car he mistakenly believed contained two Palestinians. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, has shocked both local and international communities, as the victims were later identified as Jewish Israeli visitors to the United States.

The suspect, 27-year-old Mordechai Brafman, reportedly fired 17 rounds from a semiautomatic handgun at the vehicle carrying Ari Rabey and his father. The attack, described by police as unprovoked, left Ari Rabey with a gunshot wound to his left shoulder, while his father sustained a grazing bullet wound. Authorities stated that there had been no prior interaction between Brafman and the victims before the shooting.

According to the arrest report, Brafman claimed he saw two Palestinians while driving his truck and believed he had killed them. However, after his arrest, it became clear that his assumptions were entirely incorrect. The victims, initially fearing they were being targeted in an antisemitic attack, later learned that the shooter was Jewish as well.

The case has sparked significant controversy and debate. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has called for Brafman to face hate crime charges, which would elevate the severity of his offenses. The organization stated that his actions were motivated by racial and nationalistic bias, and they urged authorities to take the matter seriously in order to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Brafman, who is married and works as a plumber, had previously appeared in local media a year ago after an act of vandalism at a Miami Beach bagel store that displayed an Israeli flag. At the time, he had spoken out in favor of greater unity and less division among people, a stark contrast to his recent actions.

The attack has left the victims shaken. Ari Rabey took to Facebook to share his perspective on the ordeal, addressing his post to fellow Jews. “Dear Jews,” he began, explaining that he had been in Miami with his father when they were suddenly fired upon. “They tried to kill us for nationalistic reasons,” he wrote, reflecting his belief that the shooting was driven by ideological motives.