Florida Man Charged with Plotting Mass Shooting Against Jewish Nonprofit

A Florida man has been indicted for allegedly plotting a mass shooting targeting Jewish employees at a pro-Israel nonprofit organization, according to the Justice Department.

Forrest Kendall Pemberton, 27, of Gainesville, is charged with attempted hate crime, using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, and possession of a short-barreled rifle.

On December 23, 2024, Pemberton attempted to carry out a shooting at an office belonging to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in Plantation, South Florida.

He was armed with an AR-15-style rifle equipped with a silencer. The targeted group was confirmed as AIPAC by previous reports. Court documents did not specify the nonprofit.

Critics of AIPAC argue that the group defends conservative Israeli government actions, including expansionist settlement policies in the West Bank and aggressive military campaigns, while opposing conditions on U.S. military aid to Israel.

If convicted, Pemberton faces up to life in prison for the attempted hate crime, a mandatory consecutive sentence of up to 30 years for the firearm charge, and up to five years for possession.

Investigators traced Pemberton using cellphone geolocation technology. He allegedly planned to volunteer for AIPAC to gain access and carry out the attack. Authorities reported he left home on December 22, 2024, with two rifles and a pistol after leaving a note for his family.

Upon arriving at what he believed was AIPAC headquarters, he found the building empty.

Law enforcement became involved when Pemberton's father contacted the Gainesville Police Department out of concern for his son's disappearance.

Pemberton left a letter apologizing to his family, discussing his "adversity to authority" and the "flaws of modern day."

He allegedly wrote, "Living in a flawed system haunts me in ways I cannot describe. I am breaking the loop."

Pemberton was pulled over in Tallahassee on Christmas Day 2024 while driving a rideshare vehicle. His abandoned pickup truck was later found by authorities on the side of a road.

During the traffic stop, Pemberton allegedly told authorities he was heading to Alabama to deliver one of his guns to an acquaintance.

No arrest occurred during that stop. Pemberton's father was notified, traveled to Tallahassee, and brought his son back to Gainesville.

On December 26, 2024, Pemberton agreed to be interviewed by investigators regarding his intentions for violence.

He allegedly stated, "Um, I really don’t know if I was gonna end it with my life or not. I hadn’t gotten that far yet. It entirely depended if I ended up getting caught. If caught, that was the way out."

Pemberton was arrested the following day.