Robert Bowers, 46, appeared in court yesterday after being taken into custody for opening fire and killing 11 innocent people in a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday.
Pittsburgh authorities said that Bowers barged into the Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue located in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, shouting hateful remarks towards Jewish people in a 20-minute attack, according to USA Today.
Pittsburgh Synagogue shooter Robert BowersBowers made a brief court appearance in a wheelchair on Monday, after being released from a nearby hospital hours before the hearing — he was wounded Saturday in a gunfight with police.
Bowers is charged with 29 criminal counts, including 11 counts of using a firearm to kill and 11 federal hate-crime charges. Attorney Scott Brady is seeking a death penalty against Bowers, he told USA Today.
The eleven individuals that were taken ranged between 70-97 years old and had gathered for a naming ceremony, marking the beginning of a baby’s journey in the Jewish faith.
Bowers has a history of posting anti-Semitic rants on social media, including the website Gab, which is popular among White nationalists. Before the shooting, Bowers had published a post accusing the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HAIS) of bringing “invaders in that kill our people.”
