The Baltimore Jewish community lost a son, a brother, a husband, a father, and a friend when Aryeh Wolf, 25, was shot and killed in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 10.
In social media posts following his death and during eulogies at his funeral, people highlighted his kindness and dedication to helping others. A live stream of the funeral online drew more than 1,500 viewers.
“All the people who were privileged to know you are heartbroken,” his father, Asher Wolf, said during the service.
In addition to his father and mother Elise (a principal at Bais Yaakov of Baltimore), Wolf is survived by his wife Mindy, their six-month-old daughter, Zahava, and his four siblings. His wife didn’t speak at the funeral, but another relative read a letter on her behalf.
“There is just no way this is real,” she wrote. “You took care of me when no one else could have. There is a gaping hole in my heart that only your love is able to fill. Two and half years with you will never be enough.”
Camp Simcha put out a statement in response to the community’s shocking loss: “It is with a heavy heart that we inform you of the tragic death of Aryeh Wolf Z”L, a beloved former Camp Simcha counselor who we will always remember for his chesed and dedication to helping others. We are shocked and devastated by this news and extend our sincerest condolences to his family and loved ones.”
Yaakov Langer, who was a counselor with Wolf at Camp Simcha in 2014 and 2015, was still processing the news on Thursday. “It doesn’t feel real,” he shared via Facebook Messenger. “He was just so sweet, cool but also kind, loved by everyone.”
Wolf was installing solar panels at homes in Southeast Washington when he was shot at a job site, according to police, The assailant “walked up, produced a handgun, and shot multiple times,” Capt. Kevin Kentish, a supervisor in the homicide unit, told The Washington Post. From surveillance videos detectives have viewed, he said “it does not appear that anything was taken from the decedent.”
Members of the Sixth District of the Metropolitan Police responded at 3:41 p.m. to a reported shooting at the 5100 block of Call Place, Southeast.
Wolf was transported to an area hospital, “where after all life-saving efforts, the victim was pronounced dead,” the police report stated.
As of Aug. 16, the police were not yet aware of a motive for the shooting.
The Metropolitan Police Department released the surveillance footage and a photo of someone they’re calling a person of interest in the shooting. They are offering a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone that provides information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at 202-727-9099. Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s text tip line by sending a text message to 50411.
Is there any reason to believe this was a hate crime?