Tree of Life Shooting Kills 11, Wounds 6

The shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood killed eleven and wounded an additional six. The Anti-Defamation League [ADL] believes the rampage is among the deadliest attacks on the Jewish community in the history of the United States.

On Oct. 27, 2018, Robert Bowers, a 46-year-old Pennsylvania man, allegedly drove to the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, whose members were engaged in worship. Bowers was armed with multiple firearms and entered the building injuring and killing members of three congregations as well as injuring four public safety officers who were responding to the incident. Nine members of the congregation escaped unharmed.

Those killed are remembered as: Joyce Fienberg (75), Richard Gottfried (65), Rose Mallinger (97), Jerry Rabinowitz (66), Cecil Rosenthal (69), David Rosenthal (54), Irving Younger (69), Bernice Simon (84), Sylvan Simon (86), Daniel Stein (71), and Melvin Wax (88).

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center [UPMC] said that two of the six wounded, a 70-year-old man and 40-year-old male police officer, were moved out of the intensive care unit into regular patient rooms Friday, Nov. 2. A 61-year-old woman who was also wounded remains in stable condition. The other three wounded were previously discharged.

Officials suspected Bowers was in the synagogue for about twenty minutes. As he was exiting the building following the attack, Bowers exchanged gunfire with law enforcement officials before returning back to the building to hide from SWAT officers. Upon arrest, Bowers was in fair condition with multiple gunshot wounds. It is believed he was shot by police.

The Shooter: Robert Bowers

Bob Jones, FBI Pittsburgh special agent in charge, noted that Bowers was not known to law enforcement prior to the attack. There was no clear motive, but officials suspected Bowers acted alone.

According to the ADL, the shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue comes at a time when online harassment and anti-Semitic incidents are on the rise.

Bowers had an active social media presence posting anti-Semitic views. His Gab account, a social media platform that advocates for free expression and puts minimal restriction on postings, had frequent anti-Semitic postings. Five minutes before police were alerted about the shooting, his Gab account was updated with Bowers saying: “can’t sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I’m going in.”

Bowers was indicted on 44 counts, including federal hate crimes, for the Tree of Life shooting. The FBI led the investigation leading to the indictment. According to the Department of Justice, the indictment charges are:

• Eleven counts of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death;
• Eleven counts of use and discharge of a firearm to commit murder during and in relation to a crime of violence;
• Two counts of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs involving an attempt to kill and use of a dangerous weapon and resulting in bodily injury;
• Eleven counts of use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence
• Eight counts of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs involving an attempt to kill and use of a dangerous weapon, and resulting in bodily injury to a public safety officer; and
• One count of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs involving use of a dangerous weapon and resulting in bodily injury to a public safety officer.

The defendant faces life without parole, followed by a consecutive sentence of 535 years in prison or the penalty of death.

Bowers pleaded not guilty.

President Trump in Pittsburgh

In response to the shooting, President Trump noted, “if they had some kind of protection inside the temple, maybe it could have been a very much different situation.” He continued, “they had a maniac walk in, and they didn’t have any protection, and that is just so sad to see.”

At the urging of Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, President Trump planned to visit Pittsburgh.

On Tuesday, Oct. 30, President Trump and the First Lady, Melania Trump, arrived in Pittsburgh with Ivanka Trump and Kushner. They visited the Tree of Life synagogue where they lit a candle with the rabbis and the Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer.

They also placed white roses on all of the stars dedicated to the victims.

After leaving the synagogue, President Trump and First Lady Melania went to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to visit the shooting survivors.

Response to Deadly Attack

The Pittsburgh population has rallied around the Squirrel Hill neighborhood. Local high schools have held vigils in support of the victims and their families. High schools and universities have incorporated  “Stronger than Hate” on their athletic uniforms.

Sports teams across the United States have had 11 seconds of silence for the 11 lives lost in response to the deadly rampage.

The Islamic Center of Pittsburgh announced on Oct. 29 that the Muslim community had raised more than $70,000 for the victims and their families. The Pittsburgh Penguins donated $25,000 to the Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh and an additional $25,000 to create a fund with Pittsburgh’s Department of Public Safety to benefit the injured officers. The Pittsburgh Steelers held a moment of silence on Oct. 28 for the victims prior to their win against the Cleveland Browns. Pittsburgh defensive end Cam Heyward said, following the win, “it’s bigger than football. There are a lot of families hurting. We have to work together and come together as a community.”

In an interview with National Public Radio [NPR], Pittsburgh mayor Bill Peduto said, “I had a great conversation with the mayor of Annapolis, Md., that recently lost five journalists. I have a phone call this afternoon with the mayor of Parkland. I’ll be speaking with the mayor in San Bernardino. I spoke at length with Mayor Buddy Dwyer (ph) in Orlando. I believe that, as mayors, the solutions of what we need to do will need to come by on the local level, that we can’t wait anymore for Washington to solve our problems for us. We’re going to have to solve them ourselves.”

Residents have shown appreciation for Pittsburgh police officers and public safety officials.

In addressing Pittsburgh neighborhoods, Peduto noted, “we will defeat hate with love.”