Schenectady man admits to buying gun for accused Temple Israel shooter

A Schenectady man pleaded guilty on Thursday to illegally purchasing the gun that was used in the shooting outside Temple Israel in Albany last December.

Andrew Miller, 38, admitted in U.S. District Court that he conspired with Mufid Fawaz Alkhader to purchase the 12-gauge pump shotgun used in the Dec. 7, 2023 shooting.

Miller lied to a firearms dealer by claiming that he was the actual buyer. He actually conspired with Alkhader to purchase it because they believed Alkhader could not legally purchase the weapon himself due to a federal marijuana possession conviction. Miller also lied on the federal form, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Miller transferred the shotgun to Alkhader. Alkhader allegedly fired the shotgun twice into the air just before 2 p.m. at the synagogue on New Scotland Avenue near St. Peter’s Hospital, police said. The shooting happened on the first night of Hanukkah.

No one was injured. He was caught nearby. Alkhader reportedly told police that he was responding to events in the Middle East and yelled “Free Palestine.”

Miller faces up to 5 years in prison when sentenced on Oct. 18. He has been released until sentencing.

The case against Alkhader is pending. He is charged with possessing a firearm as a prohibited person and conspiracy to make a false statement during the purchase of a firearm.