pittsburgh synagogue shooting
Pittsburgh shooting suspect faces 29 federal charges
Robert Bowers, the man arrested under accusation of killing 11 people and wounding six more in Saturday's shooting at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life Synagogue, now faces 29 federal charges.
Among them are 11 counts of obstruction of the exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death. An account on the social media site Gab believed to belong to Bowers is rife with anti-Semitic content, and he reportedly told arresting officers he attacked because "all Jews must die."
The Anti-Defamation League said the shooting is "likely the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States." Prosecutors have pledged "swift" and "severe" justice.
"When you spew hate speech, people act on it. Very simple," said Stephen Cohen of New Light Congregation, which rents building space from Tree of Life. "And this is the result. A lot of people dead. Senselessly."