Robert Bowers, 46, is the suspect in 'horrific' shooting at Pittsburgh synagogue

Rick Jervis and Sean Rossman and Candy Woodall USA TODAY

Published 3:58 PM EDT Oct 27, 2018

Robert Bowers, 46, has been identified as the suspect in Saturday's "horrific" mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, according to a law enforcement official.

Police have Bowers in custody after the rampage that has resulted in at least 10 fatalities and six injuries, according to the Associated Press. Four of the six injured were police officers, three of whom were shot, according to the Pittsburgh Public Safety Department.

Bowers allegedly burst into the Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh and screamed, "All Jews must die!", among other anti-Semitic epithets, as he opened fire on the congregants, according to the law enforcement official.

The official, who is not authorized to comment publicly, said the suspect was armed with at least one rifle.

The official said the suspect left an alleged trail of anti-Semitic rants on social media accounts, prompting authorities to designate the FBI as the lead agency to investigate the attack as an alleged hate crime.

"It’s a very horrific crime scene," Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said at a news conference. "It's one of the worst I’ve seen."

Teams of armed police swarmed the neighborhood near downtown Pittsburgh just before 10 a.m. Saturday. Residents were urged to shelter in place as armed law enforcement agents canvassed the neighborhood.

Speaking to reporters at Andrews Air Force Base, President Donald Trump praised law enforcement's response in the shooting and called the suspect in custody a "madman" and a "whacko."

He said he would like to see more armed guards at synagogues and other places of worship and impose more death penalty sentences on convicted murderers.

"It's a terrible, terrible thing what's going on with hate in our country and, frankly, all over the world," Trump said. "Something has to be done."

Posts believed to be from Bowers’ social media accounts show pictures of several Glock pistols in their cases and derogatory remarks about refugees, Jewish people and Trump. In his last post on the social network Gab, issued Saturday morning, Bowers criticized a refugee advocacy group who "likes to bring invaders in that kill our people."

"I can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered," he wrote. "Screw your optics, I'm going in."

At the scene, Pittsburgh Police Commander Jason Lando told reporters the shooting took place near the Tree of Life Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood and they had "multiple casualties."

More: Shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue: Politicians, local leaders react to tragedy

More: What we know about the shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh

Squirrel Hill is a Jewish enclave near Carnegie Melon University. A little more than 50 percent of Greater Pittsburgh’s Jewish community lives in or around the neighborhood, said Jeff Finkelstein, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.

"We are working the situation," Lando said. "It is imperative that everyone in the community surrounding the Tree of Life Synagogue stay in their houses and shelter in place. Do not come out of your homes right now. It is not safe."

Tree of Life immediate past president Michael Eisenberg told KDKA-TV that there were three congregations meeting simultaneously, probably totaling around 100 people, at the time of the shooting. They were gathered in the main part of the building, as well in the basement and in the rabbi study room, he said.

The shooting occurred during a baby-naming service. Eisenberg said he spoke with a maintenance man who hid in one of the bathrooms during the shooting and witnessed a shot congregant before fleeing through an exit.

Eisenberg said he was on his way to service there when he noticed police swarming the streets.

"There were police cars everywhere, guns drawn, rifles," he told KDKA-TV. "It was surreal."

In the interview, Eisenberg said synagogue officials recently adjusted the exit doors to make them easier to open, which probably saved lives on Saturday. During Saturday services, the front door is kept unlooked, allowing visitors to come and go freely, he told KDKA-TV.

Security has always been a concern at the synagogue but the shooting will force officials to rethink their threat-prevention measures, Eisenberg said.

"This will be a catalyst for increased security in the future," he told the station.

More: Trump says Pittsburgh shooting has 'little' to do with gun laws, armed guard could have prevented tragedy

The synagogue was founded 150 years ago and offers members a "traditional Conservative service with a modern sense of family" and shabbat service on 9:45 a.m. Saturdays, according to the Tree of Life's website.

Vice President Mike Pence commented on the incident while at an event with Nevada Republicans in Las Vegas, scene of last year's deadly shooting that left 58 people dead and more than 850 injured.

"As Las Vegas knows all too well, what happened in Pittsburgh today is not just criminal, it's evil," he said. "There's no place in America for violence or anti-Semitism."

Follow Jervis on Twitter: @MrRJervis.

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