Law enforcement officers, prosecutors and others discussed the latest details of Saturday’s mass shooting at Tree of Life Congregation in Squirrel Hill at a Sunday morning press conference.
The 11 people killed inside a Squirrel Hill synagogue Saturday included a husband and wife and two brothers, authorities said Sunday.
The victims, who ranged in age from 54 to 97, were identified as: Joyce Fienberg, 75, of Oakland; Richard Gottfried, 65, of Ross; Rose Mallinger, 97, of Squirrel Hill; Jerry Rabinowitz, 66, of Edgewood; brothers Cecil Rosenthal, 59, of Squirrel Hill, and David Rosenthal, 54, of Squirrel Hill; married couple Bernice Simon, 84, and Sylvan Simon, 86, of Wilkinsburg; Daniel Stein, 71, of Squirrel Hill; Melvin Wax, 88, of Squirrel Hill; and Irving Younger, 69, of Mt. Washington.
Families were notified throughout the night and morning.
Karl Williams, chief medical examiner at the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office, said the agency is trying to balance the needs of the investigation with the religious customs of the victims’ families. Jewish funerals are typically held within 24 hours of death.
“We are doing everything in our power to complete the process in a way that honors both civil and religious law,” Dr. Williams said, when asked whether he’d meet that 24-hour deadline.
Later Sunday, the medical examiner’s office released the cause and manner of death for all 11 victims. All died from rifle wounds, and all were classified as homicides.
He said no funerals are expected to take place Sunday.
Mayor Bill Peduto said the city will need to “work together” to “get through this darkest day in Pittsburgh history.”
He and other city officials praised the region’s response to Saturday’s massacre, saying Pittsburgh police officers saved lives by stopping the suspected shooter, Robert Bowers, 46, of Baldwin Borough, from leaving the synagogue after he’d roamed the building, firing with an AR-15 assault rifle and three Glock .357 handguns.
The first shots were fired about 9:45 a.m. at the Tree of Life Congregation on Wilkins Avenue, authorities said. The first paramedics were dispatched at 9:54 a.m.
Two officers encountered Mr. Bowers as he was leaving the synagogue and exchanged fire with him, forcing the man to retreat, authorities said Sunday.
“They prevented additional loss of life,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Bob Jones. He said the FBI has no knowledge of any additional targets, but said had Mr. Bowers been able to leave the building, it is likely he would have had a “violent confrontation,” with police at some point.
Mr. Bowers eventually surrendered and faces both state and federal charges. He is expected to appear in federal court Monday at 1:30 p.m. in front of Judge Robert Mitchell.
U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said Sunday authorities are treating the attack as a hate crime, rather than domestic terrorism. The FBI does not believe anyone one else was involved in the attack. “The distinction between a hate crime and domestic terrorism is a hate crime is where an individual is animated by hatred or animus toward a person of a certain ethnicity or religious faith, and it becomes domestic terrorism where there is an ideology that that person is also trying to propagate through violence,” he said. “We continue to see where that line is, but for now, at this point in the investigation we are treating it as a hate crime.”
“On behalf of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, we want to offer our most heartfelt condolences and prayers,” said U.S. Attorney Brady. “A place of worship is a sacred place, a place where a community comes together to celebrate what that they hold most dear, and this is our first freedom as a people….Today we stand together as a community, a community that rejects hatred and violence.”
U.S. Attorney Brady and Special Agent Jones, who is leading the investigation from the FBI’s Pittsburgh office, said the shooting occurred in three different locations in the building.
Among the injured were four law enforcement officers and two others who were treated at UPMC hospitals.
One police officer has been discharged.
Pittsburgh police Chief Scott Schubert said another is expected to be discharged today. The other two police officers are expected to face a longer recovery, he said.
“We grieve with you, we support you and we’ll continue to work with you. Something that makes Pittsburgh strong is that we work together,” Chief Schubert said.
Wilkins and Shady avenues will be closed for up to a week, Chief Schubert said, as forensic evidence continues to be gathered.
Mayor Bill Peduto said the city will move beyond the “horrific” tragedy and focus on strengthening the community.
"To the victims families and friends, we’re here for you,” the mayor said. “We’ll be here to help you through this horrific episode. We’ll get through this darkest day of Pittsburgh's history by working together."
Mr. Peduto praised Squirrel Hill's diversity and said that the behavior of mass shooters should not be normalized.
“We should be working to eliminate irrational behavior,” he said. “I think the approach we need to be looking at is how we take the guns, which is the common denominator of every mass shooting in America, out of the hands of those looking to express hatred and murder.”
The mayor praised the police officers and first responders who rushed to help.
"The thanks of an entire city go to them.…When they put on that uniform they understand the sacrifice they make."
Shelly Bradbury: 412-263-1999, sbradbury@post-gazette.com or @ShellyBradbury on Twitter. Ashley Murray: 412-263-1750, amurray@post-gazette.com or on Twitter at @Ashley__Murray.
First Published: October 28, 2018, 12:53 p.m.