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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Police say a gunman opened fire at a Pittsburgh Synagogue on Saturday morning, yelling “All Jews must die.”
KDKA-TV sources say the shooting suspect is Robert Bowers.
U.S. Attorney Scott Brady filed federal hate crimes charges against Bowers on Saturday evening. Those charges include:
Eleven counts each of Obstruction of Exercise of Religious Beliefs Resulting in Death and Use of a Firearm to Commit Murder During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, four counts of Obstruction of Exercise of Religious Beliefs Resulting in Bodily Injury to a Public Safety Officer and three counts of Use and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions has issued a statement, saying the Department of Justice will file hate crime charges against Bowers for the shooting. Those charges could “lead to the death penalty.”
His full statement reads:
“Hatred and violence on the basis of religion can have no place in our society,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “Every American has the right to attend their house of worship in safety. Today 11 innocent people were suddenly and viciously murdered during religious services and several law enforcement officers were shot. These alleged crimes are reprehensible and utterly repugnant to the values of this nation. Accordingly, the Department of Justice will file hate crimes and other criminal charges against the defendant, including charges that could lead to the death penalty.
“It has been an important week for us to show gratitude for the hard work of our law officers around the country. And today was no exception. I want to thank the FBI, ATF, Pittsburgh police, and especially the heroic officers who were so quick to respond to the shooting, including the multiple officers who were shot. These officers ran to danger to save others, which reflects the highest traditions of policing in this country. There can be no doubt that they saved lives today.
“The Department of Justice will continue to support our state and local partners and we will continue to bring the full force of the law against anyone who would violate the civil rights of the American people.”
Police are also investigating if Bowers announced his intentions on social media Saturday morning. His account has since been taken down.
Several things posted on his social media accounts show Bowers making several anti-Semitic statements.
Just this morning Bowers reportedly posted “I can’t sit by and watch my people get slaughtered, screw the optics, I’m going in.”
Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said this shooting is being investigated as a hate crime and as such, the FBI is leading the investigation.
“At this time this is being considered a federal violation and the primary investigative agency will be the Federal Bureau of investigation,” Hissrich said.
Bowers grew up in Whitehall and is believed to have presently lived in an apartment complex on McAnulty Road in Baldwin Borough.
Police, FBI and ATF agents and technicians were at the 11-unit McAnulty apartment complex for most of the day Saturday.
PITTSBURGH, PA – OCTOBER 27: A heavy police presence has blocked off a section of McAnulty Road in Baldwin Borough. It is believed the suspected gunman in a shooting a Squirrel Hill’s Tree of Life Synagogue lived in an apartment in that area and that police are processing the scene. (Photo Credit: Ralph Iannotti/KDKA)
They were finally permitted inside Saturday night after getting court approval to execute a search warrant. They first checked the building with a robot bomb detector.
Chris Hall, one of Bowers’ neighbors, said there was nothing unusual about Bowers. He described him as a truck driver who would come and go regularly.
Hall said when Bowers was home, he often had the TV on late at night, but generally, Hall said that Bowers never had company and stayed pretty much to himself.
“The most terrifying thing is just how normal he seemed. No tattoos that I could see, he just looked like an average 50-year-old dude,” Hall said. “He kept to himself. He would smoke his cigarettes in his car. Go for a drive and then be back at odd hours. TV would be on, but I couldn’t really hear it. Just went about my day, he went about his day. I just, I wish there was something that like, something tattooed on him or anything that could say, ‘Hey, this is what’s going on in my head.’ I wish… I just wish we knew.”
RELATED LINKS:
- 11 Dead, Several Others Shot At Pittsburgh Synagogue
- Shooter Yelled ‘All Jews Must Die’ As He Opened Fire At Pittsburgh Synagogue
- Synagogue Shooting Prompts Condemnation, Prayers From All Angles
- Trump: If Pittsburgh Synagogue Had Armed Guard, ‘Results Would Have Been Far Better’
- Pittsburgh-Area Blood Donation Centers Extend Hours In Response To Shooting
- Ohio Governor Orders Flags Lowered After Synagogue Shooting
- Sports Teams Standing With Pittsburgh After Synagogue Shooting: ‘We’ll Stick Together And Rally Around Them’
- Hundreds Mourn Synagogue Shooting Victims At Squirrel Hill Vigil: ‘This Is Not Something That We’re Going To Let Break Us’
- Squirrel Hill Residents In Shock, Mourning After Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting
- Synagogue Shooting The Latest In The History Of Pittsburgh’s Mass Shootings
- Identities Of Those Killed, Injured In Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting Starting To Be Released
- ‘An Attack On Everything That We Stand For’: Rabbi Late For Service, Misses Shooting By Mere Minutes
- ‘It Rips Your Heart Out’: Mayor Bill Peduto Reacts To Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting
- ‘This Would Have Been Much Worse’: Officials Praise Law Enforcement Response To Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting
- PHOTO GALLERY: 11 Dead, Several Others Shot At Pittsburgh Synagogue
Eleven people have been killed and a number of others injured after the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill on Saturday.
Police sources tell KDKA’s Andy Sheehan the gunman walked into the building and yelled, “All Jews must die.” He was reportedly armed with an AR-15 and two handguns.
At least six other people were injured in the shooting.
The shooting happened during weekly Shabbat services at the conservative Jewish synagogue, the building was full was full of people for a Saturday service.
He needs to be made an example of. He should be hung publicly, tomorrow.
This is still the United States. Give him a trial then hang him after he’s found guilty.
Real leftists today literally think nothing about turning any current development to their political advantage. Literally, human concerns never enter their minds. They see an opportunity and they use it. They’re following the teachings of Saul Alinsky in ‘Rules for Radicals (1971), which are most effective to the extent that the “organizer” can detach from human decency. At play here are Alinsky’s Rules Nos. 8 and 13:
8 – Keep the pressure on, with different tactics and actions, and utilize all events of the period for your purpose.
13 – Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.
Well Done ~ Hypocrisy is the hallmark of Fox Trump and what’s left of the Republican party.
you seem to be the one that is pursuing those two so called rules.
1. you are blaming so called “real leftists when it is clearly a white wing extremist the exact opposite and utilizing this event for your dark purpose.
2. You have picked an 60 year old target, frozen it to today personalized it to todays event and polarizing it to your dark advantage.
Not sure if I agree. He deserves a fair trial and I hope he doesn’t get death, for one thing, a life in a concrete steel box is what he deserves, and second, it costs millions to execute someone, sometimes taking decades. It’s far cheaper to sentence them with life with no chance of parole.
With any luck, he’ll reap what he sows in prison, and if harm comes to him while incarcerated, not many would lose sleep over it.
Thoughts and prayers to all the survivors and those affected by this homicidal, stuck on stupid domestic terrorist.
This guy is a Trump hater, Trump is a friend of Israel and has jewish family members in the WH. It seems that no one wants to fight the battle on the field of ideas any more.
How long have liberals called Israel a terrorist state? Just re-enforces any wackos irrational hatred of the Jewish people.
Unfortunately, my first thought was that it was another demonrat/deep state ploy to blame on repubs before the election. It is unfortunate that this is what entered my mind first before my compassion and concern for all the innocent victims kicked in
You are a kook.
wow! “white male”, I glad the CBS news media is starting to report ethnicity in their crime reports. I am sure CNN & NBC will soon follow suit.
White nationalist. Someone that thought Trump needed to be more radical in his nationalist views. That is one pathetic ideology.
The dude has already said that he didn’t and never would vote for trump. There’s nothing inherently wrong with nationalism as it includes EVERYONE that’s a citizen in your country. It’s not that hard to figure out… Unless you’re a little slow, in which case, this might include you.
Check out his FB friends list. Very racially diverse, although he has lots of young Indonesian girls/boys as FB friends, so he maybe a pedo too.
Sad case. I am a Texas now, but love Pittsburgh. A great town with great people. So sorry for you, my friends!
I’ll believe it when I see the bodies, see the tears, see the blood. Until then, it is just ANOTHER fake narrative, like the school in Florida, and Las Vegas. Pure hogwash by the Democrats.
Hero
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2018/10/report-pittsburgh-shooter-named-on-police-scanner-is-a-nazi-hated-donald-trump-thought-trump-controlled-by-jews/
It’s simply stunning how many of you posting are willing to leap into a political narrative to support whatever point of view you have. Listen and learn and then draw conclusions. Compare, contrast, go to many sources before you spew whatever pre-conceived notions you have. This prefabricated nonsense is what is leading us all into extreme positions. Yesterday’s bomber is undoubtedly a Trump support but his actions would never be endorsed by any thinking feeling person regardless of who you cast your vote for. Just stop it folks. Or it will continue and worsen and then people will feel compelled to pick sides and that is not my USA. Listen, consider and learn. Nobody from any party can claim this. All of us must claim this. All of us must do something to stop it.
Very well stated. It’s a travesty, but let’s not point fingers and blame parties. This is a sick/twisted individual. Condolences to those affected.
Robert Bowers avenged Gaza, thank you sir
So the libs have already tagged the mail bomber as the “MAGA bomber”, so this guy should be called the DNC bomber, right? One only has to look at his tweets and his facebook page to see he is a liberal nut job. So, using the litmus test that the Democrats use, the mail bomber indicts all Republicans and conservatives and the DNC bomber indicts all Democrats and liberals, right? What is good for the goose is good for the gander.
you people care about being right and winning more than each other. that’s the most significant problem i can see from the UK.
This is why gun laws should be loosened.
SO PEOPLE CAN DEFEND THEMSELVES.
He has already been identified at other sites as being a “Trump Hater.”
Hmm, no mention, not the same kind of headline as “MAGAbomber” i guess.
Riighhht.
THE JEWISH QUESTION
Here is the answer
The Book of Revelation – copied from Egyptian mystery religion texts (you can look it up) and spliced with Biblical imagery – a false prophecy.
Blood letting, poisoning the wells. It’s history now.
It’s the fear of God + superstition + peer pressure.
This book inverts the teachings of Christ. It makes people predictable, psychopathic – readable. It’s been used for centuries to divide and manipulate populations. It’s been used as a war tactic for social and political domination.
My Twitter page tells the full story.
@ChrisGrinnin
Trump hater? Obviously, anti-Trump rhetoric from the media (CNN, ABC, CBS, NYT), Obama, Clinton, Pelosi, Shumer, Waters, Soros and others are responsible for this slaughter right? Look who was held responsible for Cesar Sayoc Jr mailing dud pipe bombs!
Agreed, this animal needs hanged, immediately. He’s already had his trial, he was caught red handed!
Louis Farrakhan darling of CNN/MSLSD says stuff that is real bad against Jews. Al Sharpton another daring of the left..
Enough of the “he’s one of yours”, “Nuh-Uh, he’s another crazy winger!!, You own this!!” Blah-blah BS. The truth is, these people are insane, period. These people are crazy first, and their interpretation of whatever ideology they think they belong to is so perverted by their altered mental state as to be unrecognizable by rational people. They “belong” to no group, no side and no political ideology. They are dangerous and must be rooted out and stopped by a vigilant society before they commit violence. Any group who seeks to capitalize on tragedies like these to push their political ideology may actually share these people’s psychosis.
what part of nationalist vs
national socialist (nazi)
don’t you ignorant @$$hat
demonrats understand?!?!?!?!?
this is what happens when liars
just keep lying to cover all
their previous lies….
it called a delusion!!!!
turned over to a
STRONG delusion,
living in a world founded on LIES!!!!
Why isn’t he being declared an enemy combatant and put on a plane to Gitmo?
Oh my God! Jeff Sessions is alive!!!!!!!!!
The Republicans are going to lose this year. So they will in 2020 as well. Get used to right wing conservative usually religiously and racially motivated attacks.
I just can’t understand anti-semitism. I worked with many Jewish people in my life. I found most of them to be warm and friendly. Not the demons that these crazies believe. Get to know a group before you demonize them.
I’m waiting patiently for journalists on CNN to explain which Democrat politician we need to blame for the acts of this insane — and Trump-hating — thug.
*Crickets*