11 Died And 6 Injured After A Man Opened Gunfire At A Pittsburgh Synagogue
- 11 died and 6 wounded after a man opened gunfire at a Pittsburgh Synagogue on Saturday morning.
- The man identified as Robert D. Bowers, 46, started firing at the praying crowds shortly after 10 on Saturday.
- Among the six wounded, four are police who responded to the shooting.
- Bowers has been charged with 29 felony charges including obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs and using a firearm to commit murder.
- He is likely to face the death penalty if he would be convicted of his crimes.
Officials confirmed 11 died and 6 injured after a man opened fire at Pittsburgh synagogue, Pennsylvania. A man armed with an AR-15-style rifle and at least three handguns opened fire inside a synagogue on Saturday morning.
Law enforcement said the attacker was identified as Robert D. Bowers, 46, who reportedly made anti-Jewish comments after he was apprehended.
Officials said that the suspect was in the Squirrel Hill synagogue for around 20 minutes after the attack and as he was leaving the scene, he encountered a law enforcement officer and they exchanged gunfire. Later police arrested him with multiple gunshot wounds which could be self-inflicted or by the police. By Saturday evening, he was in fair condition.
Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich told reporters,
These incidents usually occur in other cities. Today, the nightmare has hit home in the city of Pittsburgh.
Later, an FBI Pittsburgh special agent, Bob Jones said,
At this point, we have no knowledge that Bowers was known to law enforcement before today.
The federal officials charged Bowers with 29 criminal counts including obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs and using a firearm to commit murder. The official confirmed Mr. Bower had no previous criminal records.
Among the six wounded, four were policemen who responded to the scene and two other injured are identified as a 70-year-old man and a 61-year-old woman who got soft tissue wounds.
Bowers is likely to get a death penalty if he is convicted of the crime. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said,
Hatred and violence on the basis of religion can have no place in our society. Every American has the right to attend their house of worship in safety.
Saturday's ma s s murder was the third ma s sacre in a house of worship in the last three years. In November 2017, 26 worshipers were killed at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. And back in 2015, nine congregants were killed by a white supremacist in a church in Charleston, South Carolina.
