On Saturday morning, Pittsburgh’s squirrel hill neighborhood, the tree of Life synagogue went under attack of a gunman who opened fire targeting and killing many Jewish Americans. The tree of Life synagogue is a place of worship, in one of the most prominent Jewish areas of Pennsylvania. The shooter was carrying an assault rifle and also had with him, at least three handguns.
In response to the attack, Pittsburgh police responded at 10 am and engaged in two confrontations with the gunman. This horrific shooting was during a ceremony of baby naming service. In the confrontations, four police officers were injured while the suspect was shot. Neither police officers nor the gunman was in critical condition. A total of eleven people are dead, and six are severely injured of which two are in critical condition, after this horrific shooting. No children were among the casualties.
The shooter was later identified as Robert Bowers aged 46, and he is currently in custody of Pittsburgh police. Pittsburgh Public safety director, Wendell Hissrich said that the crime scene was “very bad” in a press briefing. He also said that the shooter would be charged on Hate crime as soon as Saturday itself. Pittsburgh’s FBI director also briefed this attack in an afternoon press conference. He termed shooting as “the most horrific crime scene” in past two decades, at least! For families and victims, city officials have set a hotline for information. This is 412-432-4400.
In response to the attack, the New York Police Department has announced to deploy extra officers and “Heavy weapons teams” to protect houses of worship throughout the city. Los Angeles police also said to increase patrols.
President Donald Trump in his pre-scheduled speech in Indianapolis said that this attack on such congregation was “a wicked act of murder” and was “anti-Semitic”. He also said that “Our nation and the world are shocked and we are stunned by grief”. He also added that the gunman must get the death penalty.
