The Schenectady man accused of firing a shotgun outside Temple Israel on Thursday is now charged with allegedly getting a friend to buy the weapon because he knew he wasn’t allowed to own a firearm.

Mufid Fawaz Alkhader, 28, is accusing of firing a 12-gauge shotgun twice into the air at about 2 p.m. No one was injured and the building was not damaged.

Alkhader told police he was responding to events in the Middle East and yelled “Free Palestine” to responding officers.

He was charged last week with a possessing a firearm as a prohibited person. That’s because he is not allowed to have a weapon because of has a federal marijuana possession conviction.

Prosecutors now allege that Alkhader gave a friend money to buy the shotgun because Alkhader thought he had a restraining order he had would prevent it.

The friend bought the gun for $599.99 on Nov. 5 at a licensed firearms dealer in Albany County and then gave it to Alkhader. The friend lied on the federal form and checked the box “Yes,” when asked if he was buying the gun for himself.

Alkhader faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of charges alleged in the complaint.

Alkhader has not yet been charged in the actual shooting. When asked about that, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said the investigation is continuing.