FBI Looked at Ohio Machete Attacker Four Years Ago - NBC News
I find it interesting we are introduced to the murderer by the name of Mohamed Barry, and then after that he is only mentioned as 'Barry'.
An Ohio man who slashed four restaurant patrons with a machete and was later killed by police had come to the attention of the FBI four years ago for radical comments, law enforcement officials said. Agents took a brief look at Mohamed Barry but moved on, the officials said. The officials did not elaborate on the radical comments.
Investigators said Friday it is unknown why Barry, 30, attacked patrons at Nazareth Restaurant and Deli in Columbus shortly after 6 p.m. Thursday, or why he struck at that restaurant.
Barry was shot and killed by police at the end of a five-mile chase shortly after the rampage.
Investigators said Friday it is unknown why Barry, 30, attacked patrons at Nazareth Restaurant and Deli in Columbus shortly after 6 p.m. Thursday, or why he struck at that restaurant.
Barry was shot and killed by police at the end of a five-mile chase shortly after the rampage.
The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security have been called in to assist in the investigation. "Based on the nature of the assault, we believed it prudent to bring in federal partners," Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs said. "We believed he acted alone ... I'm not aware that we have any known history with the suspect."
Investigators are looking into whether Barry attacked the restaurant in the mistaken belief that owner Hany Baransi was Jewish, sources told NBC News. He is actually an Arab Christian from Haifa, Israel.
Barry, who lived in Columbus, had asked a worker at the Nazareth Restaurant and Deli where the owner was from a half hour before he started slashing, investigators said...
While police have confirmed that Barry questioned a restaurant worker before returning with the machete, Jacobs insisted "we do not have a known motive at this time."
Meanwhile, police identified the four survivors of the mayhem — William Foley, 54, Neil McMeekin, 43, Gerald Russell, 43, and Debbie Russell, 43.
Foley, who remains in critical but stable condition, was the most badly hurt victim.
Investigators are looking into whether Barry attacked the restaurant in the mistaken belief that owner Hany Baransi was Jewish, sources told NBC News. He is actually an Arab Christian from Haifa, Israel.
Barry, who lived in Columbus, had asked a worker at the Nazareth Restaurant and Deli where the owner was from a half hour before he started slashing, investigators said...
While police have confirmed that Barry questioned a restaurant worker before returning with the machete, Jacobs insisted "we do not have a known motive at this time."
Meanwhile, police identified the four survivors of the mayhem — William Foley, 54, Neil McMeekin, 43, Gerald Russell, 43, and Debbie Russell, 43.
Foley, who remains in critical but stable condition, was the most badly hurt victim.