Teen Charged in Miami Beach Murder of Rabbi Joseph Raksin

Memorial for Brooklyn Rabbi Joseph Raksin in North Miami Beach. Image by Getty Images

By JTA December 9, 2015

MIAMI — A 15-year-old boy has been arrested in the 2014 death of Brooklyn Rabbi Joseph Raksin in North Miami Beach.

Deandre Charles was taken into custody on Wednesday morning in connection with the death of Raksin, according to reports confirming the arrest by the Miami-Dade Police Department.

Brooklyn Rabbi Joseph Raksin. Image by Handout

Charles was 14 when he allegedly shot and killed Raksin, 60, of Brooklyn, New York, while the rabbi was walking to synagogue on Aug. 9, 2014. Raksin was in South Florida visiting his family when police believe he was attacked in an attempted robbery.

Police received tips for more than a year about the two possible gunmen but did not have enough information to make an arrest. It is unclear what led to Charles’ arrest.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO