Man accused of firing shots outside Albany synagogue appears in federal court for firearm charge

The man accused of opening fire in a synagogue parking lot in Albany appeared in federal court on Friday morning to face a firearm charge.

Prosecutors identified Mufid Fawaz Alkhader, a 28-year-old Schenectady resident, as the person who allegedly fired two rounds from a shotgun outside of Temple Israel at around 2 p.m. on Thursday, ahead of the first evening of Hanukkah.

The shots were fired into the air, according to the criminal complaint, and no one was harmed. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday said at least two dozen children were in an early childhood center onsite at the time, and they were released to their families after a temporary lockdown.

Alkhader faces up to 15 years in prison for an unlawful firearm possession charge, with the complaint pointing to alleged illegal marijuana use and interstate or foreign commerce laws.

Alkhader’s attorney declined to comment. A judge ordered Alkhader’s detention pending trial in his court appearance on Friday morning.