Suspect arrested after antisemitic drive-by shooting at home of New Zealand Jewish family in California
A man has been arrested in connection with an antisemitic drive-by shooting that targeted the home of a New Zealand Jewish family in Redlands, California, in December.
Jonpaul Yohanan Cohen Pic: Facebook
The incident occurred on the evening of 12 December 2025, when a vehicle drove past the family’s home — which was decorated for Hanukkah — and fired multiple rounds at the property. Home security footage captured the attack and recorded a male voice shouting what appeared to be an antisemitic slur.
Several family members were inside the house at the time, but no one was injured.
Redlands Police have arrested 23-year-old Garrett Bailey Stater, who has been charged with terrorising and making terroristic threats. An airsoft gun believed to have been used in the incident was recovered during searches in Redlands and nearby Yucaipa. Two other individuals were questioned and released.
Police believe the family was targeted because of the visible Jewish holiday decorations.
The family includes former Wellington residents who moved to the United States in 2017 for academic work. Jonpaul Yohanan Cohen, who grew up in Hataitai, said the shooting marked a “red line” for the family amid what they described as rising antisemitism in the United States.
As a result of the attack, the family has decided to return to New Zealand in the coming months, citing safety concerns.
The shooting occurred just days before the Bondi Massacre, targeting Jews celebrating the first night of Hanukakh in Sydney, heightening concerns for Jewish communities internationally.
