UMVA has learned that a 27-year-old Florida man, Forrest Kendall Pemberton, has been indicted for allegedly plotting a mass shooting targeting Jewish employees at a pro-Israel nonprofit organization.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Pemberton of Gainesville, is charged with an attempted hate crime, using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, and possession of a short-barreled rifle. The charges stem from a disturbing incident on December 23, 2024, when Pemberton attempted to carry out a shooting at an office belonging to a prominent pro-Israel group in Plantation, South Florida.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that Pemberton was armed with an AR-15-style rifle equipped with a silencer, and investigators believe he planned to volunteer for the group to gain access and carry out a deadly attack. The plot was uncovered after Pemberton's father called the police, concerned about his son's disappearance.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that court documents show Pemberton left a note for his family before leaving his home on December 22, 2024, with two rifles and a pistol. He allegedly wrote about his "adversity to authority" and the "flaws of modern day," stating that "living in a flawed system haunts me in ways I cannot describe."
Pemberton was pulled over in Tallahassee on Christmas Day 2024 while driving a rideshare vehicle, but no arrest was made at the time. He was interviewed by investigators on December 26, 2024, and allegedly said, "Um, I really don’t know if I was gonna end it with my life or not... It entirely depended if I ended up getting caught. If caught, that was the way out."
If convicted, Pemberton faces up to life in prison on the attempted hate crime count, a mandatory consecutive sentence of up to 30 years in prison on the firearm count, and up to five years in prison on the possession count. The case highlights the growing concern over hate crimes and the importance of vigilance in preventing such attacks.
