The suspect in the fatal shooting of three people at a Jewish community center is said to be a white supremacist.
The man has been identified as 73-year-old Frazier Glenn Cross, of Aurora, Mo. The identity of the suspect was initially hidden by Overland Park Police Chief John Douglass and was only revealed by a prison official on the condition of anonymity.
Cross is merely an alias for the suspect. He is better known as Frazier Glenn Miller.
Miller has been a participant in hate groups for much of his life. He was a founder of the Carolina Knights of the Ku Klux Klan and the grand dragon of the group during the 1980s. He later founded another hate group called the White Patriot Party.
Eyewitnesses reported the suspect as shouting “Heil, Hitler!” as he was escorted away from the scene by police.
NOW: Picture of alleged suspect in custody for Overland Park, Kansas shootings at #Jewish Community Center pic.twitter.com/GULmrITYvw
— NewsBellGlobal (@newsbellglobal) April 13, 2014
The police chief told the press, “We are investigating [the shootings] as a hate crime.” He added, “We haven’t ruled out anything. Again, we’re three hours into it.”
The killings took place ahead of the Passover or Pesach, a Jewish holiday. Law enforcement officials understand that the nature and the timing of the murders will put the community on edge.
President Obama released a statement to the press about the tragic shooting, “My heart and prayers are with all those who were affected by today’s events,”
Governor Sam Brownback was quoted as saying, “We will pursue justice aggressively for these victims and criminal charges against the perpetrator or perpetrators to the full extent of the law.
Hearts and prayers going out to the Jewish Community Center in Overland park Kansas today..
— Sharon OBrien (@sharon7670) April 14, 2014
Overland Park terrorist identified as Frazier Glenn Miller, former KKK leader & longtime anti-Semite http://t.co/mSqUd879Gq
— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) April 14, 2014
“We are condemning the murder which according to all signs was committed because of hatred of Jews”, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement, “The state of Israel [together] with all civilized peoples is committed to fighting against this plague.”
Image via YouTube