The government dropped charges today against Solomon Perl, who was arrested in Perugia, Italy yesterday and held for extradition. Perl, 22, a student at the University of Perugia, was charged with having fired shots into the residences of Soviet Embassy-officials in Hyattsville, Md. last May 13. He also reportedly was charged with theft of a gun and transportation of a weapon across state lines.
Perl is the son of Dr. William Perl, former head of the Jewish Defense League in the Washington area. The elder Perl last week received a two-year suspended sentence for conspiring to shoot at Soviet officials. Jeffrey White, assistant U.S. Attorney in Baltimore, requested today that the charges against Solomon Perl be dismissed.
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency learned that proceedings were dropped because evidence at the trial of Dr. Perl nullified the charges against his son. The young man, a student of veterinary medicine, remained in custody of Italian authorities today pending completion of discharge papers.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
