Detroit police close to naming suspect in synagogue president’s stabbing

Investigators have identified several people of interest in the fatal stabbing of a Detroit synagogue president, but will not talk about their connections to the woman.

Detroit Police Chief James E. White said police know Samantha Woll — who led the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue — attended a wedding Friday night and that she left the celebration around 12:30 a.m. He said there was no sign that anyone forced their way into her home and investigators believe Woll was stabbed inside before stumbling into the yard.

“We have a number of people that give us interest. We are just short of calling one of the people a suspect,” he says, adding that investigators believe a suspect “acted alone.”

Police have repeatedly said they have found no evidence that Woll’s killing “was motivated by antisemitism,” and White asked people not to draw quick conclusions as the investigation continues, including analyzing forensic evidence with support from the FBI.

“We believe that there are no other groups or anyone else at risk in regards to this particular incident,” White says.

At the White House, spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre says US President Joe Biden is following the case closely. She adds that there are no concrete threats to the Jewish community.