A federal grand jury sitting in the U.S. District Court for
the Western District of Pennsylvania charged a Pennsylvania man with federal
hate crimes, including the murder of 11 people, for his actions during the Oct.
27, 2018 shootings at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill
neighborhood. United States Attorney
General Jeff Sessions, Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore for the
Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania
Scott W. Brady, and FBI-Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Robert Jones made
the announcement.
Robert Bowers, 46, of Baldwin, Pa., was charged in a
44-count indictment returned today.
According to the indictment, on Oct. 27, 2018, Bowers drove
to the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where members of the
Tree of Life, Dor Hadash, and New Light Jewish congregations gathered to engage
in religious worship. Bowers entered the
building armed with multiple firearms, including Glock .357 handguns a Colt
AR-15 rifle. The indictment alleges that while inside the Tree of Life
Synagogue, Bowers opened fire, killing and injuring members of the three
congregations, as well as injuring multiple responding public safety
officers. While inside the Tree of Life
Synagogue, Bowers made statements indicating his desire to “kill Jews.”
Specifically, the indictment charges:
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.
“Hatred and violence on the basis of religion can have no
place in our society,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “Every American has
the right to attend their house of worship in safety. The defendant in this
case allegedly murdered 11 innocent people during religious services and
injured four law enforcement officers. These alleged crimes are
incomprehensibly evil and utterly repugnant to the values of this nation.
Therefore this case is not only important to the victims and their loved ones,
but to the city of Pittsburgh and the entire nation. I want to express my
thanks and admiration for the courage and professionalism of those officers who
so quickly responded to this event, and especially to those that suffered
wounds in the process. Our thanks is also extended to the Pittsburgh Bureau of
Police, the FBI, and the ATF for their outstanding response to this violent and
deadly attack. The Department of Justice, working with our state and local
partners, will bring the full force of the law against anyone who would violate
the civil rights of the American people and we are resolutely determined to
achieve justice in this case.”
“A federal grand jury in western Pennsylvania returned a
44-count indictment against Robert Bowers for the killing of 11 worshipers at the
Tree of Life synagogue on Saturday, October 27, 2018,” stated U.S. Attorney
Brady. “Today begins the process of
seeking justice for the victims of these hateful acts, and healing for the
victims’ families, the Jewish community, and our city. Our office will spare no resource, and will
work with professionalism, integrity and diligence, in a way that honors the
memories of the victims. This is what
the public expects from the US Department of Justice. And truly we, as Pittsburghers, can do no
other. It is time to go to work.”
“I want to assure everyone that the FBI has teams of
professionals working toward a single goal: to piece together the facts, answer
the questions and ensure justice is served,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent
in Charge Robert Jones. “We, as a community, are all united. I also want to
thank local law enforcement and first responders for their heroic work. They
showed professionalism and extraordinary bravery and their quick actions no
doubt saved the lives of many other people that day. We are very lucky that
such good people choose lives of service in law enforcement.”
The victims include 11 worshipers at the Tree of Life
Synagogue who were killed, 2 members of the congregation who were critically
injured by Bowers and 9 other members of the congregation who escaped
unharmed. Additionally, four law
enforcement officers were injured trying to stop Bowers’ rampage.
Assistant United States Attorneys Troy Rivetti and Soo C.
Song, along with Trial Attorney Julia Gegenheimer of the Civil Rights
Division’s Criminal Section, are prosecuting this case on behalf of the
government.
The FBI conducted the investigation leading to the
Indictment in this case.
The defendant faces a maximum possible penalty of death, or
life without parole, followed by a consecutive sentence of 535 years’
imprisonment.
An indictment is a formal accusation of conduct, not
evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven
guilty.
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