Student faces gun charges after arrest at Washington synagogue

On Monday 9 November 2026, Washington Hebrew Congregation gave its account of the arrest of an armed man before its Shabbat service on Saturday 7 November. The man was a student visiting the Washington, DC, synagogue with a group from Liberty University. Police charged him with firearms offences. No one was injured. ¹²³⁴

A visit arranged by the congregation

The group was taking a religious studies course. The synagogue said it had arranged the students’ visit in advance and that the university had taken part in earlier interfaith meetings. On Saturday, security staff stopped the armed man from entering. Police responded at about 10.15am local time and arrested him at the scene. ¹²³⁴

The suspect, Tyler Finn, is 32 and comes from Lynchburg, Virginia. According to police, he faces charges of carrying a pistol without a licence and possessing an unregistered firearm and unregistered ammunition. He told investigators that recent news reports had made him fear for his own safety and that of others there. ¹²³⁴

A court hearing in December

The synagogue said Finn was released on 9 November. His next court hearing is scheduled for December. The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington said it was in contact with law enforcement and the community. At the time of its statement, the federation said it knew of no ongoing threat. ¹²⁴

Washington Hebrew Congregation is a Reform Jewish congregation. After its founding in 1852, its members took the unusual step of petitioning the US Congress. They wanted to settle any doubt over their right to own a place of worship in the capital. On 2 June 1856, President Franklin Pierce approved a law extending to the congregation the rights already granted to Washington’s Christian churches. ¹⁵⁶

Sources

1. Jewish Insider, « Armed man arrested after trying to enter D.C. synagogue before Shabbat services », 9 novembre 2026, https://jewishinsider.com/2026/11/washington-hebrew-congregation-armed-individual-arrested-shabbat/
2. JNS, « Police not probing man who tried to enter DC synagogue with unregistered gun for hate crime », 9 novembre 2026, https://www.jns.org/news/u-s-news/police-not-probing-man-who-tried-to-enter-dc-synagogue-with-unregistered-gun-for-hate-crime
3. Luke Tress, The Times of Israel, précisions de la Washington Hebrew Congregation sur l’arrestation, 10 novembre 2026, 0 h 13 (heure d’Israël), https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/washington-synagogue-says-arrested-suspect-was-student-with-unregistered-revolver-and-knives-cited-safety-concerns/
4. FOX 5 DC, « Armed man arrested after attempting to enter Northwest DC synagogue », 9 novembre 2026, https://www.fox5dc.com/news/armed-man-arrested-after-attempting-enter-northwest-dc-synagogue
5. Washington Hebrew Congregation, « Marking the 160th Anniversary of Our Congressional Charter », juillet 2016, notice de la congrégation sur sa charte de 1856, https://www.whctemple.org/2016/07/marking-the-160th-anniversary-of-our-congressional-charter/
6. Congrès des États-Unis, loi du 2 juin 1856 sur la congrégation hébraïque de Washington, texte reproduit par le Capital Jewish Museum, p. 2, 2 juin 1856, document officiel, https://capitaljewishmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CJM-PrimarySource-WHCCharter-Spring2024.pdf

The story in 30 seconds

Read the main facts at a glance and share the link.

1. Police arrested an armed man at Washington Hebrew Congregation before the Shabbat service on 7 November. No one was injured.
2. The synagogue said on 9 November that the student was visiting as part of a Liberty University course.
3. The synagogue said the student was released on 9 November. He is due in court in December on charges relating to the gun and ammunition.

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