West Boca, Florida - Victim Of A Synagogue Shooting On Rosh Hashanah Has Died

West Boca, Florida - Jonathan Samuels, who was shot twice in the back in October on Rosh Hashana at the Weltman Synagogue, as was reported at that time on VOS IZ NEIAS, was hospitalized with chest pains July 3 and died the next day.

If it is determined Samuels died from complications from the shooting, the State Attorney's Office could decide to upgrade charges against suspect Marc Benayer. Benayer was jailed last fall at age 79, one of the oldest people jailed locally.

Samuels believed he was targeted for helping Pinto, his employee, arrange to split up with Benayer. Pinto had sought a restraining order against Benayer prior to the shooting, as his verbal threats and harassment increased.

Witnesses testified about Benayer's erratic and controlling behavior in the weeks before the shooting, including distributing a copy of his last will and testament right before the shooting.

Sheriff's detectives say Benayer opened fired outside the synagogue, including firing one random shot near where children played in a day-care setting.