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Pittsburgh synagogue shooting: 11 dead, 6 injured

By By Joy Johnston, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
By By Joy Johnston, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

PITTSBURGH — A man opened fire at the Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue in Pittsburgh Saturday morning, killing 11 people and wounding six others. Four police officers were among the injured.

The suspect, identified by The Associated Press as Robert Bowers, surrendered after a firefight with police. Bowers appears to have made several anti-Semitic comments on social media and law enforcement is looking into those comments, WPXI reported.

Three separate congregations were scheduled at the synagogue Saturday morning, according to officials, WPXI reported.

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UPDATE 9 p.m. EDT Oct. 27: Robert Bowers is charged with 29 federal counts of violence and firearms charges:

  • Eleven counts of Obstruction of Exercise of Religious Beliefs Resulting in Death.
  • Eleven counts of 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.
  • Three counts of Use and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.

UPDATE 5:30 p.m. EDT Oct. 27: Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the Justice Department intends to file hate crime and other charges against the man accused in the synagogue shooting that killed 11 people, according to The Associated Press.

In a statement Saturday, Sessions said the killings were "reprehensible and utterly repugnant to the values of this nation."

UPDATE 4:05 p.m. EDT Oct. 27: Pittsburgh officials confirmed that 11 people were killed and six people were injured during the synagogue shooting. The six injured includes four police officers. Two officers were injured during an initial confrontation with the suspect, and two officers were injured at a later point during the incident, WPXI reported. The suspect suffered gunshot wounds and is in fair condition, officials said.

UPDATE 3:23 p.m. EDT Oct. 27: A photo of suspect Robert Bowers has been released, WPXI reported.

UPDATE 3:22 p.m. EDT Oct. 27: President Trump condemned the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, during remarks at the Future Farmers of America convention, saying there must be no tolerance of anti-Semitism in America.

UPDATE 3:10 p.m. EDT Oct. 27: The Associated Press is reporting that at least 10 people were killed in Saturday's synagogue shooting.

UPDATE 2:15 p.m.  EDT Oct. 27: Officials have established a hotline for those looking for information on their loved ones who may have been at the synagogue at the time of the shooting.

UPDATE 1:42 p.m.  EDT Oct. 27: UPMC Presbyterian gave an update on some of the victims.

UPDATE 1:32 p.m.  EDT Oct. 27:  The Associated Press has identified the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting suspect as Robert Bowers.

UPDATE 1:15 p.m.  EDT Oct. 27:  Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich confirmed at a news conference that there are multiple fatalities and six injured. The shooter was taken to the hospital. Hissrich said the crime scene was "horrific," and one of the worst he's seen in his career. The scene has been cleared and there is no further threat to the public, Hissrich said.

UPDATE 12:45 p.m.  EDT Oct. 27:  President  Donald Trump spoke to the media about the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting.

UPDATE 12:18 p.m.  EDT Oct. 27:  Police sources have confirmed to WPXI that there were up to eight people killed in the mass shooting and four officers shot.

UPDATE 11:49 a.m.  EDT Oct. 27:  Governor Tom Wolf has arrived at the scene of the shooting.

UPDATE 11:25 a.m.  EDT Oct. 27:  Police said three officers were shot.

Update 11:20 a.m. EDT Oct. 27: Police confirm that the suspect, who was injured during a firefight with police, has surrendered.

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Law enforcement rushed to Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue around 10 a.m. Saturday.

There are unconfirmed reports of multiple victims. There is also an unconfirmed report that the suspect shot at responding officers. The status of the suspect is unknown at this time.

This is a breaking news story, return for updates.

Cox Media Group

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