A Florida man has been charged with two counts of attempted murder after a violent anti-Palestinian attack in Miami Beach. Mordechai Brafman, 27, allegedly fired 17 shots at an Israeli father and son vacationing in South Florida, later claiming he mistook them for Palestinians. The victims survived with non-fatal injuries, according to police reports.
Brafman told officers he acted out of fear during a severe mental health crisis. Defense attorney Dustin Tischler stated:
His ability to assess reality was profoundly impaired at the time of the incident.The suspect remains in custody without bond while undergoing psychiatric evaluation.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has demanded federal hate crime charges, arguing:
- The attack demonstrates clear ethnic bias
- Florida’s history of hate crime cases requires federal oversight
- Victim identity shouldn’t negate motive analysis
Key developments include:
• One victim sustained a shoulder gunshot wound
• Second victim was grazed by a bullet
• Prosecutor’s office upgraded charges to second-degree attempted murder
Legal experts note this case highlights growing concerns about mental health defenses in violent crimes and evolving hate crime legislation. The Miami Herald reports Brafman had no prior criminal record before the March incident.