A synagogue in pittsburgh shooting is being investigated as a hate crime. Were expecting the police will update the public on the tragic events this morning in pittsburgh. Here in the meantime is what we do know where, that ten people were killed. Six others were injured, including among them, four police officers. The gunman is in custody and wounded and made antijewish remarks, comments during the shooting. He has been identified. He is 46yearold Robert Bowers. Cnn has learned that he frequently targeted jews on social media. Particularly on a platform called gab, posting just today cant sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics. Im going in. President trump has reacted to this shooting just moments ago. With one unified voice we condemn the historic evil of
antisemitism, and every other form of evil and, unfortunately, evil comes in many forms. We come together as one american people. All right. Lets get right to the scene, and our sonja mogi, who has just arrived there in Squirrel Hill. Sonja, what are you seeing . Whats the latest . I have reported on other Mass Shootings. This scene is eerily quiet. Im not seeing a lot of people Walking Around outside. It is raining, but, you know, when i was in orlando, you saw people immediately surrounding that nightclub. Law enforcement vehicles are many, many Law Enforcement authorities are behind me at the scene processing that scene right now, but as far as
bystanders, theres not the usual, and i think part of the reason is neighbors here are shocked, and we are hearing more details about those moments coming out after the shooting. In fact, we just got audio on a Dispatch Call of the moment the shooting happened, and those calls to 911. Lets take a listen to those right now. Tall white mail, short hair, light blue shirt, jeans. I got one. Back in one right now . Still alive. We have four down in the atrium. Doa. I many a report of at least one victim in the basement. I have an additional four victims. Four victims in the second story atrium off the front hall. Whats your status in the basement . 12 at the bottom of the stairwell. Working room to the right. We have blood. That audio showing the moment of chaos right after that shooting and then during that shooting neighbors telling me that many of them here in this neighborhood called the Squirrel Hill neighborhood here in pittsburgh sheltered in place and didnt know if it would be safe to go out. It is safe now for them to go out. Authorities say that theres no immediate threat here. Now were simply wondering who has been one of the ten people who have been reported dead, wondering if its anyone they knew themselves. That lockdown has been
lifted. We understand theres been a Perimeter Setting up. Sonja in Squirrel Hill, pittsburgh. Thank you so much. Now, were also getting new images from the suspects social media accounts. It appears that he posted photos of his gun collection, what he called his glock family, as well as those targets from a firing range. Joining me now to take a look at all this are, again, cnns crime and justice Reporter Shimon and cnn Law Enforcement analyst, former fbi supervisory Special AgentJosh Campbell and former Assistant Director for the u. S. Marshalls office art roderick. Art, let me start with you. I dont know if you are able to hear that dispatch there, the audio. What was your takeaway . I mean, it was very calm and collected, but, obviously, a very intense situation. Yeah. Alex, you know, i have been part of training regarding First Responder training that we held within department of homeland security, and you listen to
those radio transmissions, and thats exactly what it sounds like when these First Responders go through that type of training. They actually have role players that will actually assume the positions of the victims and you hear that Radio Traffic and thats exactly how these types of incidences go down. It sounds like its chaotic, but its actually organized chaos. These Law Enforcement officers know exactly what to do, where to go to neutralize the threat immediately and then treat the victims and evacuate them as quickly as possible. Thats exactly what you heard. You have listened to others like it. Whats your reaction . Its similar to what i have heard in other situations. It is organized chaos. Art is absolutely right. They train for this stuff, and they know kmbl what to do. What struck me is how not only are they looking for an active shooter, but their lives are now
in danger. In the middle of this near pulling people out who are perhaps hiding. There is a part of this audio where they theyre finally confront the shooter. They describe how he is crawling and turned over. We showed imalkz of the weapons that he owned that he posted on his social media. They talk about in the audio how they see a gun in his waist and a gun on his ankle, a hadnt gun. They also talked about in the audio about seeing a magazine for what looks like a highpowered Assault Rifle. Weve heard the Vice President , and even they describe the heroic efforts, and then, finally, they talked about what the suspect was saying about jews and so thats what they knew right away what they were dealing with, but just to think about how they went through that
building. There were about four floors that they were searching. They went to the basement to search for people, searching for him. Really making this situation well, preventing it from being far worse. Weve dwotd these pictures here. You have confirmed that he did have a license to carry. Thats right. Our Law Enforcement contacts are telling us that he did have a valid firearms carrying license there in pennsylvania. He made a number of purchases, lawful purchases of firearms since 1996. Again, we dont know what particular weapon was used in this incident, and whether that was one that were seeing on our screen or, you know, one that he had actually purchased legally. That we still dont know. I will say one thing thats very chilling as we talk about this transcript now that were getting, we look at this its
safe to bet these officers continue to move through that location in order to identify where the person was to try to take them into custody, and just custody just very schilg listening to this, particularly that one line. We need armor. I think they knew what they were in for. Theres no doubt that this is an antisemitic attack, and weve already figured that out in the first moments after this. The president has officially declared this to be an antisemitic attack. He made some remarks earlier today. Lets take a listen. What happened today is a horrible, horrible thing. Were learning a lot about it. It looks definitely like its an antisemitic crime. Its something you wouldnt believe that could still be
going on. Art roderick, i want to go back to you. Weve seen this time and time again. These Mass Shootings. Has anything been done to try to stop this . Well, alex, i dont think much has been done. You know, some states have passed laws to make bump stops illegal. A few of them have. Really, nothing has been done, and we keep going sort of over the same record over and over again every time we had one of these shootings. The thing that, you know, that i thought about here after this horrible week of hate and we had, you know, the mail bomber who esspoused white supremacy, which is antisemitic and antiimmigrant, and now we have this individual espousing the same exact stuff. Was the mail bomber the same were going to cut you off. Theres a Press Conference underway. Lets take a listen. Im the Public Safety director of the city of pittsburgh. To my left is Scott Schubert and chief of police. First off, on behalf of the city, our hearts go out to all the victims that have been involved in todays tragedy. These incidents usually occur in other cities. Today the nightmare has hit home here in the city of pittsburgh. As youre well aware, a Tree Of Life Synagogue at 5898 Wilkins Avenue at 9 54 this morning calls were received at the Alleghany CountyEmergency Operations center that an active shooter was inside the building. At 9 55 officers were dispatched. Apparently initial confrontation between the subject and the
officers occurred injuring two of the officers. Two additional officers were injured during the altercation. Those were Swat Officers. Multiple agencies responded to this incident this morning, and without their courage, this tragedy would have been far worse. Those include numerous state, county, and federal agencies as well as neighboring ems services along with the city of pittsburgh. Additionally, the dispatchers, the physicians, nurses that assisted in this incident should also be commended. There were 11 fatalities as a result of the shooting incident. There were no children. There were additionally six injuries to include four of the police officers. That does not include the
suspect. Chief schubert has visited several of the injured officers. He will update you as well as the doctor will update and give you a current update on the victims that are currently being treated. Personally, i would like to thank every agency that responded today as well as the dispatchers, the fbi. As you are aware, this is a federal crime, and both s. A. C. Bob jones and u. S. Attorney scott brady will discuss that. I would like to take a few minutes and allow Scott Shubert to discuss the officers, what they encountered when they arrived at the scene this morning. Chief. As the director said, first and foremost, our hearts and thoughts and prayers go to the
victims of this, and to our officers who responded. I can tell you by the time i got there, they were already starting to extract people. Watching those officers run into the danger to remove people and get them to safety was unbelievable. For the Swat Officers, our Swat Officers and swat teams from around the region who were there who went into that active shooting and were able to apprehend that actor, i cant speak more for the courage that they have. Two of the officers that were hit, as the director said, were the First Responders to the scene and were engaged, and theyre both in stable condition, and two from our swat team during an engagement inside the building were struck as well. Were going to thank them for the jobs they did and for saving lives, but we cant not forget those victims inside that synagogue who lost their life. Thank you. Good afternoon. Im bob jones, Special Agent in charge of the Pittsburgh Office of the fbi. Thank you. Certainly, the actions this person took today were hateful. Were in the early stages of this investigation, and over the next several days and weeks we will look at everything in the suspects life. His home, his vehicle, his social media, and his movements over the last several days. At this point we have no knowledge that bowers was known
to Law Enforcement before today. I want you to know that the Law Enforcement will work around the clock to get the answers to why this happened. That said, we ask for the publics patience in the coming hours and days as we work through this investigation. This is the most horrific crime scene ive seen with the federal bureau of investigation. Members of the Tree Of Life Synagogue conducting a peaceful service and their place of worship were brutally murdered by a Gunman Targeting them simply because of their faith. The suspects full motive is unknown, but we believe he was acting alone. At this time the fbi has significant resources in and deploying to pittsburgh from our laboratory division, our Critical Incident response group, our office of victim assistance, and our Operational Technology division. I cant say enough about the actions of the Pittsburgh Police, the Pittsburgh Police swat team, and the Alleghany County police. Had it not been for the quick and heroic response this would
have been much worse. Thank you very much. Now ill turn it over to governor wolf. Thank you. Im governor tom wolfe, pennsylvania. Today words simply i cant express the sadness that all pennsylvanians feel for what happened today. I want to give my condolences, first of all, to the victims of this tragedy, their families, and their friends and to this community. The shooting is being investigated by the fbi as a hate crime. My heart breaks for the members of the Jewish Community. Any attack on one community of faith is an attack on any community of faith in pennsylvania, and ip the Jewish Community across the kwemt and across the country to know that we stand in support of you as we, together, mourn this
senseless account of violence. The shabat is a time of reflection and a time for finding peace. Not for violence. Pennsylvanias Jewish Community is strong, vibrant, and resilient. Now is the time more than ever to come together and to support each other. I have spent today with First Responders, with local leaders, and i am in awe of the bravery displayed by Law Enforcement, those folks to help keep people safe and to prevent tragedy. Federal, state, and local Law Enforcement are working in concert to investigate this tragedy and to maintain Public Safety. At the state level the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the Department Of Health are in contact with local officials to assist any, any, unmet needs. The Pennsylvania State police have been on the scene already and are coordinating with federal and local Law Enforcement. Pennsylvania state polices swat
team, the helicopter, canine units, and Bomb Technicians have all responded and are all assisting. My thoughts right now are focused on the vimsz, however. Their families, their friends, and making sure that Law Enforcement has every resource that they need. In the aftermath of this tragedy, we must all come together, and we must take action to prevent these tragedies in the future. We simply cannot accept this violence as a normal part of american life. Good afternoon. Im the United States attorney for the Western District of pennsylvania. Today is a tragic day for pittsburgh. Its a tragic day for our brothers and sisters in the Jewish Community. On behalf of the Attorney General and the entire united
states department of justice, we want to express our deepest and most heart felt condolences to the victims and their loved ones, the Jewish Community, and everyone who is affected by this terrible and unspeakable act of hate. I spoke with general sessions today, and he wanted me to express his condolences and know that he stands with pittsburgh and with pittsburghs Jewish Community. The actions of Robert Bowers represent the worst of humanity. Where he expect to file criminal charges shortly. Perhaps as early as today. Please know that justice in this case will be swift and it will be severe. I want to echo the comments of chief shubert and the bravery that was exhibited by the swat teams of Pittsburgh Police and the Alleghany County police. They ran towards gunfire to keep people safe. They exetch few today the best of all of the traditions of law
enforcement and to the Pittsburgh Police. Know that were working together with our federal, state, and local Law Enforcement partners to gather all the facts. The cooperation of Law Enforcement has been outstanding. I was at the scene today, which as we stated by Special Agent jones was a horrible scene to witness, and, yet, all of the federal, state, and local partners stood together in concert and are working together to solve this. We deeply appreciate the response of the Pittsburgh Police, the fbi, Alleghany County police, and all of our Law Enforcement partners who are working so hard. Know that we will work day and night fo