The Redlands drive-by shooting that targeted a family displaying Hanukkah decorations is under investigation as a possible antisemitic hate crime, with local police and city officials treating the episode as motivated by faith-based hatred and using surveillance and witness statements to pursue leads.
On Friday evening in Redlands, California, a home adorned for Hanukkah was targeted in a drive-by incident that left inflatable decorations pierced but no physical injuries to family members. Rodgir Cohen, a political science professor and university lecturer, reported the attack and provided initial details to local outlets, and the episode is now the subject of an active police inquiry.
https://x.com/CohenRodgir/status/2000033988233351231?s=20
The City of Redlands issued a formal notice confirming the Redlands Police Department is treating the matter as a potential hate crime and has stepped up patrols around places of worship and the neighborhood where the incident occurred. Investigators say the family had just returned home when a vehicle passed, an antisemitic slur was yelled, and shots were fired toward the house.
Police reviewed the home surveillance and found no muzzle flash or shell casings, leading them to suspect the weapon may have been an airsoft handgun rather than live ammunition. The Redlands post made clear the targeting appeared tied to the family’s visible Hanukkah display, and officials encouraged anyone with information to come forward through established police channels.
Redlands Police investigating incident targeting Jewish family
As our friends in the Jewish community begin their celebration of Hanukkah, several tragic incidents have occurred across the globe, targeting people simply because of their faith. Unfortunately, Redlands is not immune to these hateful acts, as a local family was targeted because of their festive home decorations celebrating Hanukkah.
The Redlands Police Department is currently investigating a potential hate crime targeting a Jewish family in the 1300 block of Magnolia Avenue in Redlands Friday, Dec. 12.
The family had just arrived home Friday evening when a vehicle drove past the victims’ residence, yelled an antisemitic slur and fired several shots. No injuries or damage were reported. No shell casings were found, and home surveillance video showed no muzzle flash leading police to believe the weapon was an airsoft handgun.
Police believe the family was targeted because of the festive decorations set up outside their home to celebrate Hanukkah.
“While we are relieved that no injuries occurred, it is important to reaffirm our support of our community members, no matter their faith,” said Mayor Mario Saucedo. “Violence and hatred have no place in Redlands.”
The Redlands Police Department is actively investigating the incident and will continue to provide additional patrols in the area and around places of worship within the City.
Anyone with information regarding this incident or any suspicious activity is asked to contact Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681 ext. 1. Certain non-emergency crimes may also be reported online using the Redlands Police Department’s CopLogic reporting system at www.cityofredlands.org/report-crime. Suspicious activity and tips can be reported using the City of Redlands 311 mobile app available for Android, iPhones, and iPads.
Cohen and his son described a tense confrontation outside their home shortly before shots were reported. According to their account, three people in a four-door sedan approached, exchanged words, and one of the suspects directed hostile language at them while brandishing an object that unnerved the family. The vehicle later returned and the surveillance footage captured rounds striking the yard inflatables more than 20 times.
The frightening Dec. 12 incident played out around 8 p.m. when homeowner Rodgir Cohen and his son Jon Paul were about to leave their Redlands home in the 1300 block of Magnolia Avenue.
Rodgir and Jon Paul encountered three suspects, two women and a man, in a four-door sedan.
“He was holding whatever it was towards me, but he chose to yell at me,” Jon Paul told KTLA’s Carlos Saucedo. “He said, ‘Free Palestine,’ and then he used the N-word. Looking back and realizing that what he had in his hand was likely a gun and that he was that close to me really shakes me up.”
After the encounter, the father and son got into their vehicle and drove away, but moments later, the family’s home surveillance cameras captured vehicle returning and firing more than 20 rounds at from what was likely, according to investigators with the Redlands Police Department, an airsoft gun.
There were three family members at home during the incident, and authorities emphasized the fortunate fact that nobody was physically harmed. The only reported damage was to holiday decorations—several inflatable figures were punctured by the projectiles, underscoring the frightening but ultimately nonlethal nature of the attack. Surveillance footage is now a key piece of evidence that investigators hope will lead them to the perpetrators.
Local officials pledged continued support for affected residents and vowed to maintain added presence near houses of worship and vulnerable neighborhoods while the investigation continues. Community safety and interfaith solidarity were highlighted as priorities, with city leadership urging residents to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious behavior to police. The response reflects the seriousness with which the city is treating incidents framed as hate-motivated.
Law enforcement is focusing on witness accounts, surveillance footage, and neighborhood tips as they piece together the timeline and identify suspects. The combination of recorded video and firsthand testimony gives detectives a clearer path to follow, and investigators said they will keep patrols heightened while pursuing leads. The goal is to hold those responsible accountable and to deter similar acts aimed at intimidating people for practicing their faith.
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