PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Eleven people were killed and six others injured during a mass shooting at a synagogue Saturday morning.
The shootings took place at The Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill, a predominantly Jewish neighborhood.
According to police, Robert Bowers, 46, of Baldwin, Pa., entered the synagogue at just before 10 a.m. and began shooting. The incident was being treated as a hate crime.
Bowers reportedly made a social media post six minutes before the shooting announcing he was “going in.”
U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said Pittsburgh police ran into the danger. The first two officers were engaged and injured. Two Pittsburgh SWAT team members were also shot. All four officers are in stable condition.
FBI Special-Agent-In-Charge Bob Jones said the crime scene was the worst he’s seen in his more than 20 year law enforcement career.
Police said Bowers was carrying an assault rifle and three handguns. It’s believed he was acting alone.
Bowers was shot multiple times and was hospitalized in fair condition.
Jones said it’s believed Bowers entered the synagogue, killed the 11 people, all adults, and then was attempting to leave when he was engaged by the initial uniform officer. The officer was shot. Bowers went back into the building to try to get away from SWAT team members. He was taken into custody about 20 minutes later.
President Donald Trump condemned the shooting and anti-Semitic behavior.
Police told sources KDKA-TV Bowers shouted, “All Jews must die.”
According to KDKA, “when officers arrived the gunman reportedly shot at them, forcing officers to use their vehicles as a shield.”
The synagogue’s Saturday morning services are usually very well-attended, officials said. The shootings came during a child naming service.
Al Jazeera reported shots began. as 60 to 100 worshipers gathered for Sabbath services.
The West Virginia Council of Churches released a statement Saturday evening. It said in part:
The West Virginia Council of Churches is shocked, saddened, and outraged at the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue this morning. The West Virginia Council of Churches stands with our Jewish sisters and brothers at the Tree of Life Synagogue and they are in our thoughts and prayers this day.
As stated in our 2018 Public Policy Issues booklet, the West Virginia Council of Churches continues to “lament the deterioration of political debate in our society as it is expressed through the demonization of political adversaries, falsehood masquerading as truth for political gain, and the corrosive effect of anonymous money.”