Man accused of shooting at synagogue could be banned from possession of weapons forever

San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu has requested a gun injunction against a man accused of firing blanks at a Jewish synagogue in the city’s Richmond area.

If allowed, the Gun Violence Injunction, also known as GVRO, would permanently ban Dmitry Mishin, 51, from owning or buying firearms.

Mishin was arrested after allegedly entering the Schneerson Center synagogue in the 2600 block of Balboa Street on February 1, saying something, and then pulling out a gun and firing blanks inside the building.

Investigators also linked Mishin to a gunshot incident that occurred the day before the synagogue shooting at the Balboa Theatre, a movie theater located a few blocks away at the 3600 block of Balboa Street. According to the workers, on January 31, a man entered the theater brandishing a pistol.

Mishin has been charged with two criminal offenses related to threats to obstruct the performance of religious rites. The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office is charging hate crimes against people who practice Judaism. He also faces six offenses of brandishing a replica firearm and violating a religious assembly.

The city’s attorney’s office began ramping up its GVRO program after San Francisco-based supervisor Katherine Stefani secured a budget increase for the program in 2022. Since then, the office has hosted training programs for city agencies and law enforcement officials on how GVROs work and how to obtain them.

Since San Francisco allowed GVRO in 2019, the city has seized firearms and ammunition from 47 residents in cases related to domestic violence, suicidal thoughts and road rage.

Chiu said that as his office begins to expand its GVRO program, this case is a great example of how removing firearms from people who pose a danger to themselves or others is one of the most effective ways to prevent gun violence.

“Mr. Mishin is a textbook example of someone who poses a danger to society and should not have access to firearms,” Chiu said.

Chiu also reminds residents that while GVROs are usually filed through law enforcement, they can also go directly to a civil litigation judge to get one against someone who poses a risk to themselves or others.