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A Turkish national was shot and killed by Florida law enforcement on Thursday after threatening a Tallahassee synagogue and multiple state officials, including Governor Ron DeSantis.
According to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were serving a warrant when the suspect, identified as 38-year-old Ali Bayhan, reached for a firearm. Officers then opened fire, killing him at the scene.
Bayhan was suspected of calling in a bomb threat to Temple Israel in Tallahassee. Police later determined the threat was not credible, but the synagogue was evacuated as a precaution.
In a statement following the incident, Temple Israel thanked law enforcement and confirmed the threat was “taken seriously, handled following our emergency procedures, and resolved thoroughly and efficiently.”
The synagogue also noted that the call “contained neither antisemitic nor anti-Zionist content,” describing the suspect instead as “a mentally troubled individual.”
Violent Online Posts and Warrant Execution
Authorities said Bayhan had made multiple threats online, including a social media post stating, “Yeah, they suspended Tallahassee Temple Israel today. I will destroy it until they apologize and pay punishment, besides other things.”
Police attempted to serve him with a felony warrant in Gainesville related to these threats. When Bayhan ignored their orders and reached for his gun, deputies fired their weapons. Law enforcement said they had first tried to detain him with a police dog before using lethal force.
Mental Health Concerns
Court records show that Bayhan’s family had previously raised alarms about his mental state. As a result, Alachua County courts ordered an involuntary mental health evaluation prior to the shooting.
Broader Context
Though investigators said Bayhan’s threat lacked antisemitic content, the incident underscores the ongoing vulnerability of Jewish institutions to violent threats. In this case, law enforcement acted quickly to ensure the safety of worshipers and public officials alike.
Take Action
CAM has launched Report It — a secure app to report antisemitic incidents anonymously and in real time. Don’t stay silent — download it today on the Apple Store or Google Play. See it. Report it. Stop it. Together, we can fight this hate.
