Isabel Kinnane Smith of Allderdice is comforted by Lesley Britton, a math teacher at the school, at a vigil blocks from where an active shooter shot multiple people at Tree of Life Congregation synagogue on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh. (Stephanie Strasburg/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP) Law enforcement officers secure the scene where multiple people were shot, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood. (Alexandra Wimley/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP) Judah Samet stands at the synogague's makeshift grave markings for the 11 killed now surrounded by police tape, mourners flowers. (CNN) — As officials try to put together a picture of the alleged Pittsburgh synagogue shooter, one focus of the investigation is his social media postings, the FBI said. Here’s what we know so far about suspect Robert Bowers, 46: He allegedly made anti-Semitic statements after his arrest While in custody and receiving medical treatment, Bowers told a SWAT officer he wanted all Jews to die and also that “they (Jews) were committing genocide to his people,” according to the police criminal complaint. The bloodshed took place on the same day as Saturday Shabbat services. At the time of the shooting, three different congregations were holding services at the Tree of Life. He was in the synagogue for about 20 minutes At a Saturday afternoon news conference, officials said the suspect was in the Squirrel Hill synagogue for about 20 minutes. After the attack and as he was leaving the building, Bowers encountered a law enforcement officer and the two exchanged gunfire, officials said. The suspect went back inside to hide from SWAT officers. Bowers was in fair condition with multiple gunshot wounds, officials said. It’s believed he was shot by police. Trump says synagogue should have had armed guards He was not known to law enforcement “At this point we have no knowledge that Bowers was known to law enforcement before today,” said Bob Jones, FBI Pittsburgh special agent in charge. Jones said that while Bowers’ alleged motive is unknown, officials believed he acted alone. He has an active license to carry firearms Bowers has an active license and has made at least six known firearm purchases since 1996, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation said. On September 29, Bowers posted photos of his handgun collection on his Gab.com account, which included multiple clips and sights. A rifle and three handguns were found on the scene of the attack, the FBI said. He blamed Jews for helping migrant caravans On his Gab.com account, Bowers claimed Jews were helping transport members of the migrant caravans. He shared a video that another Gab.com user posted, purportedly of a Jewish refugee advocacy group HIAS on the US-Mexico border. Another post that Bowers commented on described HIAS’ overall efforts as “sugar-coated evil.” From Gab Seventeen days before the attack, Bowers posted a web page from HIAS that listed a number of Shabbats that were being held on behalf of refugees, an official said. On that list was a Shabbat address that is less than a mile away from the Tree of Life Synagogue. (The chief executive officer of HIAS, Mark Hetfield, said Bowers is not known to the group.) He called those in migrant caravans ‘invaders’ According to his posts, Bowers believed that those in the migrant caravans were violent because they were attempting to leave countries that had high levels of violence. And Bowers repeatedly called them “invaders” on his Gab posts. “I have noticed a change in people saying ‘illegals’ that now say ‘invaders’,” read one post, six days before the shooting. “I like this.” A law enforcement source confirmed to CNN that investigators believe the social media postings belong to Bowers and that the language on his account matches the suspected motivation behind the shootings. His most recent post was five minutes before police were alerted to the shooting In that Gab post, Bowers said he “can’t sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I’m going in.” From GAB Bowers' photo on Gab.com His Gab account has frequent anti-Semitic postings He has reposted a number of posts on his social media accounts that tell Jews to get out or leave. Gab is a social media platform that advocates for free speech and puts nearly no restrictions on content. (In a statement posted online, Gab says it “unequivocally disavows and condemns all acts of terrorism and violence…Gab’s mission is very simple: to defend free expression and individual liberty online for all people.” Gab said it was alerted to the suspect’s profile on their platform, backed up the data, suspended the account, and contacted the FBI.) His posts included criticism of President Trump Among the many anti-Semitic social media posts were comments suggesting that President Trump was surrounded by too many Jewish people. “Trump is surrounded by k****”, “things will stay the course,” read one post on the Gab social media platform, which used a derogatory term to describe Jews. Another post, apparently intended as an insult, read: “Trump is a globalist, not a nationalist,” Bowers said two days before the shooting. “There is no #MAGA as long as there is a k*** infestation. He said he didn’t vote for Trump Roughly four hours before the shooting, Bowers commented in a post that he did not vote for Trump. He was involved in trucking A law enforcement official familiar with the ongoing investigation tells CNN that Bowers has a commercial driver’s license and a history associated with the trucking industry. He received a traffic citation in 2015 A CNN review of criminal records found a 2015 traffic citation against Bowers for allegedly driving without tags. He’s been charged with hate crimes Bowers faces 29 charges in all, including 11 counts of using a firearm to commit murder and multiple counts of two hate crimes: obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death and obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in bodily injury to a public safety officer.<doc-sep>“It’s a terrible, terrible thing, what’s going on with hate in our country and frankly all over the world,” Trump said before boarding Air Force One on Saturday afternoon for a flight to Indianapolis. The president made a full-throated denunciation of ­anti-Semitism at a rally in Murphysboro, Ill., later in the day: “This evil anti-Semitic attack is an assault on all of us. It’s an assault on humanity. It will require all of us working together to extract the hateful poison of anti-Semitism from our world.”<doc-sep>Eleven people have been killed during a shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday morning, in an incident that federal authorities have charged as a hate crime. As President Donald Trump said during a prescheduled speech in Indiana, the attack on the congregation was “anti-Semitic” and a “wicked act of mass murder.” The Tree of Life synagogue is in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood, a prominent Jewish area in the city. Trying the suspect for a hate crime makes it a federal offense; the FBI now leads the investigation. According to local CBS affiliate KDKA, Pittsburgh police responded around 10 am to an active shooting while a baby naming service was underway. Police and the gunman — who was armed with an assault rifle and at least three handguns — engaged in two confrontations. Four police officers sustained injuries and the suspect was shot, but none of them are in critical condition. Two others who were injured in the attack are in critical condition, bringing the total to 17 people either dead or injured. Pittsburgh’s top FBI official said “this is the most horrific crime scene I’ve seen in 22 years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.” US Attorney Scott Brady filed 29 separate federal charges against suspect Robert Bowers on Saturday night, including hate crimes charges. Brady at a press conference on Sunday said that Bowers made statements about “genocide and his desire to kill Jewish people.” What we know A gunman, armed with an AR-15 assault rifle and three Glock 357 handguns, opened fire at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Saturday morning. Authorities said 11 people were killed and six others were injured, with two in critical condition. No children were among the dead, authorities said. Police said that the suspect was in custody, and authorities later identified him as Robert Bowers, 46. Wendell Hissrich, Pittsburgh Public Safety director, said at a press briefing that the scene inside was “very bad.” Bob Jones, the director of the FBI’s Pittsburgh office, said in an afternoon press conference that the attack led to “the most horrific crime scene” he had seen in two decades with the bureau. Police responded to the incident, and the gunman fired at them as they approached. The four police officers’ injuries are not life-threatening. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf tweeted on Saturday morning that the situation was “serious” and encouraged citizens to stay away from the area. He later tweeted that he was headed to Pittsburgh and that the suspect was in custody. We are still learning details about the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh but it is a serious situation. @PAStatePolice are assisting local first responders. Please stay away from the area and keep the congregants and law enforcement in your prayers. — Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) October 27, 2018 During a Saturday afternoon speech in Indiana, President Donald Trump called the attack “anti-Semitic” and a “wicked act of mass murder.” Earlier, he tweeted that the events were “far more devastating than originally thought.” Events in Pittsburgh are far more devastating than originally thought. Spoke with Mayor and Governor to inform them that the Federal Government has been, and will be, with them all the way. I will speak to the media shortly and make further statement at Future Farmers of America. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 27, 2018 The New York Police Department announced in a tweet that it was deploying extra “heavy weapons teams” and officers to protect houses of worship throughout the city in response to the incident. Los Angeles police said they would also increase patrols Saturday. City officials set up a hotline for families and victims. #BREAKING: A hotline for victims and their families, as well as information on the #Pittsburgh Synagogue shooting has been set up. It's 412-432-4400. Latest Details: https://t.co/JhSP1URRNT Live Coverage: https://t.co/zNLpv1Uk3i pic.twitter.com/eAGsBGuUsl — KDKA (@KDKA) October 27, 2018 Authorities have set up a Victim’s Assistance Center. Victim's Assistance Center has been set up on the campus of @ChathamU Berry Hall @ 106 Berry Street. Families of Victims wishing to check on their loved ones, can call the Victims Assistance Hotline @ 412-432-4400 #Pittsburgh — PGH311 (@Pgh311) October 27, 2018<doc-sep>PITTSBURGH — Robert Bowers, the man accused of gunning down 11 congregants in a virulently anti-Semitic rampage at a Pittsburgh synagogue, was an isolated, awkward man who lived alone and struggled with basic human interactions, neighbors and others who knew him said on Sunday. “He was in his own little world,” said Jim Brinsky, 46, a friend from childhood. Mr. Brinsky said he and Mr. Bowers, 46, grew up together but that he never met Mr. Bowers’s parents and got the impression that Mr. Bowers had a difficult home life. As teenagers, he said they built pipe bombs and blew up watermelons and trees as pranks. They drifted apart by the time they got to Baldwin High School, where Mr. Brinsky said Mr. Bowers wore a camouflage jacket and drifted alone through the halls. Mr. Bowers is not listed in any activities or sports in his 1989 junior-class yearbook, and he does not appear in the next year’s book as a senior at all. It is unclear whether he graduated. “He was pretty much a ghost,” Mr. Brinsky said. His next-door neighbors also described him as a man who was barely there. In the shabby one-bedroom ground-floor apartment where he had lived for about a year and a half, Mr. Bowers made such an insubstantial impression on his next-door neighbor, Kerri Owens, that she forgot his name soon after he introduced himself. Mr. Bowers said he worked as a truck driver and needed the apartment primarily to store his stuff, Ms. Owens said.<doc-sep>
A suspected gunman who burst into a Pittsburgh synagogue shouting "All Jews must die!," killing 11 worshippers and wounding six other people, was charged late Saturday with 29 federal counts, including hate crimes. Robert Bowers, 46, was taken into custody after being wounded in a shootout with police at the scene of the "horrific" mass shooting, according to law enforcement officials. Among the wounded were four police officers. Bowers allegedly burst into the Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh and screamed anti-Semitic epithets, as he opened fire on the congregants, law enforcement officials said. Police said he was armed with an assault rifle and three handguns. The official who is not authorized to comment publicly 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." Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Bowers could face the death penalty. “These alleged crimes are reprehensible and utterly repugnant to the values of this nation," Sessions said in a statement. "Accordingly, the Department of Justice will file hate crimes and other criminal charges against the defendant, including charges that could lead to the death penalty. The call of a shooting at the synagogue came in at around 9:54 a.m., he said. Armed with an assault rifle and four handguns, Bowers allegedly shot and killed the 11 victims before being confronted by police. Pittsburgh police officers confronted Bowers as he allegedly tried to exit the synagogue, said Pittsburgh bureau FBI Special Agent in Charge Bob Jones. A gunfight erupted and two officers were injured, he said. Bowers retreated back into the synagogue as SWAT members descended onto the scene. After another exchange of gunfire, two SWAT members were wounded and Bowers was taken into custody, Jones said. Bowers was in fair condition with multiple gunshot wounds, authorities said. Investigators believe he acted alone. "This is the most horrific crime scene I've seen in my 20 years with the FBI," Jones said. The names of the victims were not expected to be released until Sunday. 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 in Maryland, 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." 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 Mellon 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. 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."