Much of the tragedy was caught and video, including the chilling moments when the man refuses an officer's repeated order to "drop the ------- knife." Seconds later one gunshot is heard. Police said no other shots were fired.
Levi Rosenblat, 22, a rabbinical student from Israel, was hospitalized in stable condition with a wound from a 9-inch knife with a 4.5-inch blade, police said.
Rabbi Motti Seligson of Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic world headquarters in Crown Heights said synagogue officials were cooperating with police in their investigation.
"While we are very pained by everything that has unfolded, we are very grateful to the police for their quick response and are working closely with the authorities in their ongoing investigation," said Seligson in a statement.
"We commend the heroic efforts of the individuals who were present and took immediate action. If not for their intervention, the outcome could have been, God forbid, far worse. We continue to pray for the young man who is in stable condition."
According to witnesses, the attacker was heard saying repeatedly "Kill the Jews," said Chaim Landa, a spokeswoman for Chabad-Lubavitch. Several other people immediately intervened, she said.
A witness flagged down a patrol officer, who confronted the 49-year-old man and told him to put the knife down. More officers soon responded. The actual shooting is not seen on the video, shot by a businessman in the synagogue, but police say the suspect charged at one of the officers, who fired once, striking the man in the torso.
The man was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was not immediately identified, but police said he was from New York City and had a criminal history.
