Police 'determined' to solve rabbi's fatal shooting

President of Rabbinical Council expresses confidence in police after Joseph Raksin killed

DORAL, Fla. – Police continue to investigate after a rabbi visiting from New York was shot and killed on his way to temple in northeast Miami-Dade County during the weekend.

Joseph Raksin was fatally shot as he was walking to a temple near Northeast 175th Street and Northeast Eighth Court. Miami-Dade police said they believe Raksin was shot during an attempted robbery.

Police said they are looking for two people involved. One was seen wearing a yellow shirt at the time of the shooting and one was seen wearing an orange shirt.

"We're determined to get to the bottom of this case," Maj. Hector Llevat said during a news conference Monday morning.

Llevat reassured the public that the investigation of the rabbi's death will be thorough.

"We understand the grief, the anxiety and the anguish that comes from a cowardly act like this," Llevat said. "And we share in the community's urgency to find the perpetrators of this act."

Phineas Weberman, president of the Orthodox Rabbinical Council of South Florida, also spoke during Monday's news conference.

"We have confidence in the Miami-Dade Police Department," Weberman said.

His sentiments are a stark contrast to others in the neighborhood where the shooting took place. Some are even calling for the restructuring of the Miami-Dade Police Department's Intracoastal Division responsible for that neighborhood.

"Yes law enforcement has a greater responsibility to solve crimes and to prevent them from occurring, but we need the community as well," Maj. Saima Plasencia said.

Weberman said he doesn't see the shooting as a failure by police.

"Rather, in my opinion, (it is) that of a judicial system that is not strong enough," Weberman said.

No arrests have been made. Police went door to door in the neighborhood Monday afternoon to pass out flyers and hope to find anyone with any information. They also stepped up patrols in the area.

Although police haven't ruled the shooting a hate crime, they haven't ruled it out either.

Weberman said one thing is certain.

"He certainly didn't do it because he loved him," Weberman said.

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About the Author:

Liane Morejon is an Emmy-winning reporter who joined the Local 10 News family in January 2010. Born and raised in Coral Gables, Liane has a unique perspective on covering news in her own backyard.