The hate-crazed anti-Semite who slaughtered 11 helpless Jews in the worst mass murder of its kind in U.S. history was charged in court yesterday for the horrific murders at the quiet, residential Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Robert Bowers, 46, a white male, shouted, "All Jews must die," before opening fire with an automatic rifle on worshippers at The Tree of Life Synagogue. He shot dead 11 people while wounding six others, including the first four policemen to enter the synagogue. Bowers began his assault on his victims shortly before 10:00 a.m. on Saturday (Oct. 27), which was a Sabbath Day.
The police officers, however, succeeded in hitting Bowers multiple times with rounds from their sidearms. The wounded Bowers was arrested and taken to hospital where his condition is reported as stable. Two of the wounded civilians are in critical condition. Bowers was wounded as he tried to escape the scene.
It's still unclear what kind of automatic weapon Bowers used in this grisly mass murder. The first policemen he engaged reported they were taking AK-47 assault rifle fire. Other sources said a Colt AR-15 automatic rifle was seized from Bowers. The assassin also had three Glock semi-automatic pistols he did not use.
On Saturday evening, U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert C. Mitchell signed a criminal complaint charging Bowers of Baldwin, Pennsylvania with 29 federal charges. The charges include several hate crimes.
Bowers faces 11 counts on using a firearm to commit murder. He also faces 11 counts of obstruction of the exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death plus four counts of obstruction of the exercise of religious belief resulting in bodily injury to a public safety officer. There are also three counts of using and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
The four counts of bodily injury to a public safety officer stem from the policemen wounded in the gunbattle, said Bob Jones, FBI Pittsburgh special agent in charge. Jones said Bowers' full motive is unknown but we believe he was acting alone.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) condemned the attack, saying it was unconscionable for Jews to be targeted during worship on a Sabbath morning. It said the attack is the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States. The massacre is also the worst in Pennsylvania's history.
Bowers' social media posts frighteningly display his irrational hatred of Jews. Bowers posted that HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) "likes to bring invaders in that kill our people." Bowers said he can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. "Screw your optics, I'm going in."
Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said the murders are being investigated as hate crimes. This means the FBI is leading the investigation.
The latest in an unending string of gun killings immediately reignited the longstanding national debate about guns. Democrats have long fought for stricter gun control, especially for automatic weapons. Republicans oppose all such moves at gun control.
