A Florida man has been indicted for allegedly plotting a mass shooting targeting Jewish employees at a pro-Israel nonprofit organization, the Justice Department said.
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.
Alleged Attack on AIPAC Office
Federal prosecutors said that on December 23, 2024, Pemberton attempted to carry out a shooting at an office belonging to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)—a group that lobbies the U.S. government in support of Israel—in the South Florida city of Plantation. He was reportedly armed with an AR-15-style rifle equipped with a silencer. The Palm Beach Post previously reported that AIPAC was the targeted group, though court documents didn’t specify the nonprofit.
Investigators traced Pemberton using cellphone geolocation technology. He allegedly planned to volunteer for AIPAC to gain access to the group and carry out a deadly attack. Authorities said he left his home on December 22, 2024, with two rifles and a pistol after leaving a note for his family.
However, when he arrived at the building he believed to be the AIPAC headquarters, the structure was empty, The Palm Beach Post previously reported.
How Law Enforcement Became Involved
Law enforcement initially became involved when Pemberton’s father called the Gainesville Police Department out of concern over his son’s disappearance. The newspaper reported that Pemberton left a letter apologizing to his family and discussing his “adversity to authority” and the “flaws of modern day.”
“Living in a flawed system haunts me in ways I cannot describe,” he allegedly wrote. “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 subsequently found by authorities on the side of a road. At the time, Pemberton allegedly told authorities he was on his way to Alabama to deliver one of his guns to an acquaintance.
No arrest was made during that traffic stop. Pemberton’s father was notified, traveled to Tallahassee, and brought his son back to Gainesville.
Confession and Arrest
On December 26, 2024, Pemberton agreed to be interviewed by investigators, who asked if he had intended to commit an act of violence.
“Um, I really don’t know if I was gonna end it with my life or not,” he allegedly said. “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.
Potential Penalties
If convicted, Pemberton faces up to life in prison on the attempted hate crime count, a mandatory consecutive sentence of up to 30 years in prison on the firearm count, and up to five years in prison on the possession count.