Miami Beach Man Charged in Shooting of Israeli Tourists Thought Victims Were Palestinian

A Miami Beach man who fired 17 rounds at a vehicle because he thought its occupants were Palestinian was "experiencing a mental health emergency," his attorney told New Times Monday night.

Mordechai Brafman, a 27-year-old Jewish man, was arrested and charged with two counts of attempted murder for allegedly opening fire on a car in Miami Beach after he saw "two Palestinians," police said.

Though, according to a Times of Israel report, police said the victims were two Jewish Israelis visiting the U.S.

Street surveillance camera video from around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday showed Brafman’s truck driving south on Alton Road, then making a U-turn at 48th Street before driving by the victim’s vehicle, which was in the left lane, and stopping directly in front of them, in the right lane, the arrest report said.

The six-foot-tall, 230-pound Brafman then exited his truck on the driver’s side and fired 17 shots at the car as it drove past him, police said.

No one was killed. However, one of the victims was shot in the shoulder and the other was grazed on the arm, according to the police report.

During a police interview, Brafman "spontaneously stated that while he was driving his truck, he saw two Palestinians and shot and killed both." Brafman and his victims do not know each other, the report said.

Miami Beach Police spokesperson Christopher Bess told New Times that the victims were Yaron Rabi, 45, the driver, and Arie Rabi, 20, a passenger.

During county bond court on Monday afternoon, Brafman's case was called last. Wearing an anti-suicide smock, and bearing Band-Aids on both arms, Brafman fiddled with his handcuffs as his defense attorney, Dustin Tischler, instructed him not to speak and that his father was watching.

"You have been charged with two counts of attempted second degree murder, and the state has filed motions for pretrial detention," Miami-Dade County Judge Gloria Gonzalez-Meyer said. "I also find you probable cause on the two counts, also issuing stay away orders against Arie Rabi and Yaron Rabi. There is no bond."

Brafman is employed as a plumber, the police report said. A LinkedIn profile for "Mordy Brafman" describes him as the CEO of Miami Beach-based White Collar Plumbing, with six "endorsements" for negotiation skills.

In 2023, WSVN interviewed someone named Mordechai Brafman after a man stole an American flag from a Miami Beach bagel shop.

"I’d love to see some unity and people coming together and fighting less and being together more," Brafman said.

"At the time of the incident, Mr. Brafman was experiencing a severe mental health emergency," Tischler told New Times in an emailed statement Monday night. "It is believed that his ability to make sound judgments was significantly compromised." He and his client are fully cooperating with law enforcement, Tischler said. 

"We are also committed to working with medical professionals to ensure Mr. Brafman receives appropriate and necessary treatment. Most importantly, we are deeply relieved that the victims are out of the hospital and recovering," the attorney added.

Brafman has a pre-trial detention hearing on Tuesday before Judge Lody Jean.