Shooting at Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue in Pittsburgh
THE man charged with killing 11 people at a US synagogue could face capital punishment as two victims continue to fight for life.
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POLICE have charged a man over the deadly shooting at a suburban Pittsburgh synagogue, which left 11 people dead.
Robert Bowers, 46, is accused of the mass shooting, which also left six people injured. Two victims are in a critical condition.
The FBI will lead the investigation, with Bowers charged with a hate crime and other criminal charges. Police found an assault rifle and three handguns at the crime scene.
Republicans have said some of the charges could lead to the death penalty, a move US President Donald Trump has supported.
Despite the horrific gun-related crime, Mr Trump said stronger gun laws would not have helped.
Hundreds have reportedly gathered for the synagogue’s morning service, which included a baby naming ceremony.
Just five minutes before the shocking crime was committed, Bowers made an ominous post on Gab, a social network site that has found popularity among the alt-right community and advocates for free speech.
“HIAS (the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) likes to bring in invaders that kill our people. I can’t sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I’m going in,” the Gab user posted.
Multiple witnesses reported the gunman walked into the building and yelled, “All Jews must die.”
Police engaged in a shootout with the suspect, who reportedly barricaded himself in the third floor of the temple. It’s understood he surrendered to police while crawling and injured before being taken into custody.
He often made anti-Semitic social media posts, and had once claimed Jews were helping transport members of the migrant caravans.
Just a month earlier, Bowers shared details of his “glock family” on Gab.
Six others were injured in the shooting, four of who where police officers. Two are in a critical condition.
Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said outside the synagogue that the scene inside was “horrific”.
“I’ve (seen) some plane crashes. This is one of the worst (crime scenes) I’ve seen.”
Witnesses who called 911 said the gunman walked into the synagogue and opened fire.
The gunman reportedly killed three people on the ground level, four in the synagogue’s basement and at least one other person before fleeing to the third floor where he exchanged gun fire with police before surrendering.
Monitoring reports of shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. Praying for the fallen, the injured, all the families impacted, and our courageous first responders. God bless them all.
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) October 27, 2018
TRUMP SAYS SHOOTER SHOULD GET DEATH PENALTY
US President Donald Trump quickly called for the death penalty for the shooter.
“When people do this they should get the death penalty,” he said. “They should pay the ultimate price.”
He rejected suggestions that tougher gun laws may have prevented the massacre, saying if the temple had been armed “the results would have been far better.”
US Attorney-General Jeff Sessions said the Department of Justice will file criminal charges against the defendant, including charges that could lead to the death penalty.
“These alleged crimes are reprehensible and utterly repugnant to the values of this nation,” Mr Sessions said in a statement.
It was understood Mr Trump might cancel a political rally in Illinois because of the shocking crime, but Mr Trump has confirmed it will go ahead. The US President said that he did not want to “let people that are evil change our lives”.
“I will go to Illinois, and we’ll keep our schedule the way it’s supposed to be, and we should all do that, and I maybe recommend that to others also,” Mr Trump said.
Vice President Mike Pence said that the shooting was “evil”.
“What happened in Pittsburgh today was not just criminal. It was evil. An attack on innocent Americans and an assault on our freedom of religion,” he said.
“There is no place in America for violence or anti-Semitism and this evil must end.”
Ivanka Trump tweeted “America is stronger than the acts of a depraved bigot and anti-semite.”
“All good Americans stand with the Jewish people to oppose acts of terror & share the horror, disgust & outrage over the massacre in Pittsburgh. We must unite against hatred & evil.”
America is stronger than the acts of a depraved bigot and anti-semite.
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) October 27, 2018
All good Americans stand with the Jewish people to oppose acts of terror & share the horror, disgust & outrage over the massacre in Pittsburgh.
We must unite against hatred & evil.
God bless those affected
Watching the events unfolding in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Law enforcement on the scene. People in Squirrel Hill area should remain sheltered. Looks like multiple fatalities. Beware of active shooter. God Bless All!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 27, 2018
My heart breaks over the news out of #Pittsburgh. The violence needs to stop. May God bless, guide & unite the United States of America.
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) October 27, 2018
The shooting started at 10:20am, about half an hour into a service in the densely populated historic Jewish neighbourhood of Squirrel Hill.
Local man Fred Rabner, who is a regular attendee of the Saturday morning service, described the Tree of Life as a close-knit congregation.
“This is a small community,” he said.
“Undoubtedly all of us will know who those congregants” who have been killed, he said.
We send our thoughts and prayers to those affected by this morning’s tragedy in Pittsburgh. We will continue to pray for everyone involved.
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 27, 2018
Mr Rabner said there had been previous anti-Semitic attacks on the synagogue.
He said a rabbi had previously been shot and a swastika painted there.
“This is our turn and its just another in a very long line of shootings and tragedies and it just has to stop, we gotta do something,” Mr Rabner said on CNN.
Originally published as Shooting at Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue in Pittsburgh
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