U.S. Attorney Scott Brady says federal prosecutors are
seeking approval to pursue the death penalty against Bowers, reported the Associated Press.
Brady says he has begun the process to get Attorney General
Jeff Sessions’ approval as required by law to pursue a capital case against Bowers.
The attack went on for about 20 minutes and the FBI is
treating the shooting as a hate crime.
“Members of the Tree of Life synagogue conducting a peaceful
service were brutally murdered in their place a worship by a gunman targeting
them simply because of their faith,” Bob Jones, of the FBI, said.
Criminal homicide charges have been filed against a man
accused of killing 11 people and injuring several others inside a
Squirrel Hill synagogue on Saturday.
Police say 46-year-old Robert
Bowers walked into the Tree of Life Synagogue yelling anti-Semitic
slurs and shooting at worshipers while three separate services were taking
place.
The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office has now
filed charges against the alleged gunman, which include 11 counts of criminal
homicide, along with six counts of attempted homicide, six counts of aggravated
assault and 13 counts of ethnic intimidation.
Investigators say Bowers was armed with an AR-15 and three
handguns. All four weapons were used in the shooting.
Bowers exchanged gunfire with police before he was subdued
and taken to the hospital. He has undergone surgery and is under guard at the
hospital.
Four officers were among the injured. One officer was
released from the hospital on Saturday and a second was released Sunday.
According to Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert, the other two officers
will require further treatment.
According to court paperwork, Bowers made statements to
police “that he wanted all Jews to die and also that they were committing
genocide to his people.”
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