The Poway shooter could be an exception for California's moratorium on capital punishment

The 19-year-old San Diego man who was charged with murder after a shooting at a synagogue in Poway, California, on Saturday, was held without bail on Tuesday after pleading not guilty to the alleged crime in his first court appearance. The alleged shooter, John Earnest, reportedly did not speak during the arraignment, where a judge called him an "obvious and extraordinary" risk to the public.

Earnest could face the death penalty if convicted, CNN reports, because he is accused of killing a woman — 60-year-old Lori Gilbert Kaye — based on her religious beliefs, a special circumstance which could allow California to go through with the sentencing despite Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) ordering a moratorium on capital punishment in March.

Earnest is also charged with three counts of attempted murder — three more people were injured in the shooting — and one count of arson after law enforcement linked him to a fire at a mosque in Escondido, California, weeks earlier. He reportedly claimed responsibility for the fire in an online manifesto posted before the Poway shooting. Authorities are still probing the manifesto, which was published under his name, CNN reports.

During the shooting, Earnest allegedly fired a legally purchased semi-automatic rifle between eight and 10 times and carried 50 unextended rounds, The Daily Beast reports.