PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Eight people have been killed and a number of others injured after a shooting situation at The Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill on Saturday.
KDKA’s Meghan Schiller reports that a suspect, a heavy-set white male with a beard, has surrendered. The SWAT team had been talking with the suspect, and he was crawling and injured. It is unclear the extent of his injuries.
KDKA sources confirm to Andy Sheehan that the suspect is 48-year-old Robert Bowers. It is believed that he acted alone.
According to Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich, at least six other people were injured, including four police officers. The officers’ injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. The other two victims were last listed in critical and serious condition.
Police sources tell KDKA’s Andy Sheehan the gunman walked into the building and yelled, “All Jews must die.” Sheehan’s sources confirmed that eight people were dead. Others had been shot, but the extent of their injuries in unknown at this time.
When officers arrived, the gunman reportedly shot at them, forcing officers to use their vehicles as a shield.
The shooting happened during weekly Shabbat services at the conservative Jewish Synagogue, the building was full of people for a Saturday service and police say they’ve received several calls from people barricaded inside the Synagogue.
1. Bowers Was Armed With an AR-15 ‘Style’ Rifle & Was Shot by Police
NBC News’ Tom Winter reports that Bowers was armed with an AR-15 ‘style’ rifle, in addition to multiple handguns. KDKA has described Bowers as being a “heavy-set white male with a beard.” When Bowers emerged from a standoff with police, he was crawling due to injuries. The station also reported that Bowers is alleged to have opened fire on responding officers.
According to NBC News, Bowers was shot at least once by police during the exchange of gunfire at the synagogue. He was taken to the hospital and is undergoing treatment, NBC News reports.
The former president of the synagogue, Michael Eisenberg, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the shooting took place on the third floor of the building. Eisenberg said that typically there would be a children’s class on that floor but had been canceled on the day of the attack.
Police did not find any explosive devices inside the building.
Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich grew emotional during a press briefing Saturday, saying, “It’s a very horrific crime scene. One of the worst that I’ve seen and I’ve been on some plane crashes. It’s very bad.”
2. Bowers Said on Gab That He Did Not Vote for Donald Trump Because Trump Has Allowed Jewish People in His Administration & Among His Supporters
Gab/Robert Bowers
Bowers was an active poster on an alternative version of Twitter, Gab, which is popular with white supremacists, white nationalists, members of alt-right groups and others who have been kicked off of mainstream social media sites. Bowers went by the moniker One Dingo, @onedingo, on the site. In his bio section, Bowers wrote, “jews are the children of satan. (john 8:44) — —- the lord jesus christ is come in the flesh.” Shortly after the shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation, Bowers’ Gab account was deleted.
Gab/Robert Bowers
In a post a few days before the shooting, Bowers wrote, “Trump is a globalist, not a nationalist. There is no #MAGA as long as there is a k*** infestation. #Qanon is here to get patriots that were against martial law in the 90’s to be ones begging for it now to drain muh swamp. But go ahead and keep saying you are #Winning.” That same day, Bowers wrote, “amazing amount of division on gab today. glas the overwhelming jew problem has been solved so we can now fight with each other.” In another message, Bowers wrote of Trump, “For the record, I did not vote for him nor have I owned, worn or even touched a maga hat.”
Gab/Robert Bowers
On his Gab page, Bowers regularly reposted anti-immigrant sentiment as well as memes that preached holocaust denial.
Gab issued a statement after the shooting saying, “Gab took swift and proactive action to contact law enforcement immediately. We first backed up all user data from the account and then proceeded to suspend the account. We then contacted the FBI and made them aware of this account and the user data in our possession.”
3. A Witness Described the Shooting as Being Like a ‘Loud Crash in the Hallway’
Stephen Weiss, a resident of the Squirrel Hill neighborhood who was present inside the synagogue, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the shooting “sounded like a loud crash in the hallway.” Weiss said that he ran through the building hearing what sounded like an “automatic weapon.” He joined a group sheltering in place in the basement.
There are three congregations in the synagogue, the basement was where the New Life congregation was having their Shabbat service, reports KDKA.
4. A Former President of the Synagogue Said that the Department of Homeland Security Have Run Safety Drills at Tree of Life
The synagogue’s former president Michael Eisenberg said that while he was president, he had the Department of Homeland Security come to Tree of Life. Eisenberg told the Post Gazette the agency ran safety drills. Eisenberg added, “We had to step it up as far as security, although there had been no threats. The building isn’t designed for today as far as security purposes.” Eisenberg went on to tell CBS Pittsburgh that a maintenance worker who escaped was able to do so because of the DHS’ work. Eisenberg said, “He was able to get out of the building… because the exit doors were working well. I just can’t tell you how thankful I am just to do that one task that Homeland Security told us to do.”
According to the synagogue’s website, Shabbat morning services were taking place inside as reports about a shooting emerged. The website says that the congregation was founded “more than 150 years ago” and is a “conservative Jewish congregation” but “is also progressive and relevant to the way we live today.” The rabbi is Rabbi Hazzan Jeffrey Myers who has been with the congregation since August 2017. Cox Media Group’s Dorey Scheimer tweeted about the congregation, “I am so sick. Squirrel Hill is the Jewish neighborhood in Pittsburgh. Tree of Life is the largest conservative synagogue. Saturday morning is the busiest/most attended service.”
5. The Head of the ADL Has Described the Victims of the Shooting as Being ‘Targeted’
The CEO of the Anti-Defamation League tweeted his condolences to the victims of the shooting. Jonathan Greenblatt wrote that the victims of the attack were “targeted” because of their religion. Greenblatt tweeted, “We are devastated. Jews targeted on Shabbat morning at synagogue, a holy place of worship, is unconscionable. Our hearts break for the victims, their families, and the entire Jewish community.” He added, “We are actively engaged with law enforcement to understand the extent of this anti-Semitic attack and we will work together with communities across the country to push back on prejudice wherever it appears.”
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has described the shooting as an “absolute tragedy.” Gov. Wolf added, “We must all pray and hope for no more loss of life. But we have been saying ‘this one is too many’ for too long. Dangerous weapons are putting citizens in harm’s way.”
Looks like the Cult of Trump is finally reaping the seeds it’s sown. God Help Us.
However, it seems to me that the cult of Trump is producing some ugly people. Case in point, the suspect behind the pipe bombs. Check out these quotes.
On the Internet and in real life, Cesar Sayoc was not shy about broadcasting his support for Donald Trump and his contempt for those the president might consider enemies.
He plastered stickers across his white van — supportive of Trump — alongside images of the president’s critics with red targets over their faces and a large decal that read “CNN sucks.” On Twitter, the 56-year-old trafficked conspiracy theories and ranted about liberal billionaire George Soros, former president Barack Obama, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton and others whose politics were out of line with his.
“He was crazed, that’s the best word for him,” said Debra Gureghian, the general manager of New River Pizza and Fresh Kitchen in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where Sayoc worked for several months. “There was something really off with him.”
On Friday, authorities arrested Sayoc, alleging in a criminal complaint that he was responsible for sending at least 13 potential explosive devices to prominent Democratic and media figures across the country in recent days — including Obama, Clinton, Soros, former attorney general Eric H. Holder Jr. and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.).
Although officials declined to say what they believe motivated him, court records, his social media and those who know him make clear that Sayoc was troubled and, at least in recent years, deeply partisan. Ronald Lowy, an attorney representing Sayoc’s family members, said he believed Sayoc was mentally ill and lived out of his vehicle for over a decade.
Sarah Jane Baumgartel, an attorney appointed Friday to represent Sayoc, declined to comment.
“I think this is a post-Trump sort of enticing somebody who maybe had some deep-seated issues, and this recent political climate seems to be bringing it to the surface with some people,” said Daniel Lurvey, a lawyer who represented Sayoc in the past.
I will admit, there was a time, when I supported this President and thought he would be good for the Country and a good alternative to the dread of the Democratic Party in it’s current state. However, I was quite mistaken about that, and I apologize to anyone, who still reads this blog. I was wrong about Trump and his Presidency.
The day a President inspires a nut job to mail pipe bombs to people the President disagrees with, is the day that I sign off with my support of that President. I thought George W. Bush was bad; but this President is much, much worse. He might not be a Neocon; and I really do not think that he really is. He just does the Israel dance to keep them at bay. But, this President is much, much worse, I just hope that his staff and Congress can keep him contained until 2020.
Firstly, Click here to go read the article, it will open in a new window, I’ll wait.
Secondly, for all of the bad things I might have said about now former President Obama, I will say this. President Obama is doing the precise thing that he should be doing. Like his predecessor, George W. Bush, he is not going to second guess the current President. After the election of President Obama, President George W. Bush went back to Texas, returned to Private life and refused, even the most ardent requests to even remotely criticize his successor. This is precisely how these sort of affairs should be handled. President Obama had his chance, did his job and now it is someone Else’s job. This is how it works in a Constitutional Republic, a President serves his four year term, if he is lucky and does a good job, he gets a second term by an election; after that he becomes a private citizen by a peaceful transfer of power. I comment President Obama for keeping with that tradition.
Well, the President in his quest to make everything about him, tweeted this:
Bob Iger of ABC called Valerie Jarrett to let her know that “ABC does not tolerate comments like those” made by Roseanne Barr. Gee, he never called President Donald J. Trump to apologize for the HORRIBLE statements made and said about me on ABC. Maybe I just didn’t get the call?
Mr. President with all due respect, will you please shut the hell up and run the dam country and stop getting on Twitter and acting like an idiot?!?! I voted for you and I'm starting to regret that goddam vote!
A president is supposed to be just that presidential not a loud mouth loose cannon ass hole who can not seem to keep his mouth shut long enough to run the country and get positive change made for this country for those of us who actually need it… @realDonaldTrump
Well, it's seems to me that @realDonaldTrump Has totally and unequivocally Failed that test of what it takes to become and be a president who commands respect.
I mean Mr. President you're defending a woman who made a very stupid racist comment and herself as said she does not want to see people defend that comment and yet you're getting on Twitter defending her? @realDonaldTrump
I'm sorry, Mr. President…. but you have lost my support totally and I will support in the form of monetary support and blogging support and moral support to whom ever the conservative candidate is, that runs against you in 2020. @realDonaldTrump
You came into the presidential race promising to make America great again and to defend america's Trade interests, you promised to clean up the mess that Barack Obama made and most importantly you promised not to get involved with Foreign Affairs. @realDonaldTrump
And as far is this conservative Christian, who has a very traditional view of government… you have failed in your quest to be president and you have turned the Office of the president of the United States of America into a ill timed joke. @realDonaldTrump
George W. Bush may have not been the best president in the world. as matter fact his decision to go into Iraq was a fatal mistake. but at least he held the president of the United States office in high regard and treated it as such. @realDonaldTrump
Therefore Mr. President I'm must regret to inform you that I no longer consider myself to be a trump conservative or a trump supporter @realDonaldTrump
you sir have disgraced the office of the president of the United States and I no longer support your presidency and I look forward to the day @realDonaldTrump
When you take your last step on to Air Force one and it flies your sorry ass back to New York City where you belong and you no longer are able to inflict any further damage upon the office of the president of the United States of America. @realDonaldTrump
and with that folks, I declare, publicly, for the first time, that I am no longer in the pro-trump camp. This man has lost my support. Now, I am not switching sides. I am simply withdrawing support from this President. My political position, principles and convictions have not changed a bit. I just cannot support this President any longer. This has been a LONG time coming and it is finally gotten to the point with me, that I simply cannot continue to support this man.
Is this nutty idea that The President should be able to cancel the broadcast licenses of those in the press that he disagrees with. This is crazy talk and smacks of Hitler.
Here’s a snippet of the story and commentary from HotAir.com:
Yet, there are also plenty of conservatives and libertarian who have criticized Trump for his attack on the MSM. AP and Ed both wrote Trump was wrong in his challenge to the First Amendment. Katherine Timpf at National Review went even further, (correctly) using the “f-word,” as in fascism, in her condemnation.
Let me be clear: Calling for government control of the media is not a conservative view; it’s a fascist one. You’re fine to think that the government should control the media; you’re fine to espouse it — thanks, of course, to the First Amendment that you’re apparently totally fine with jeopardizing — but please understand that this idea is not compatible with conservative, or even traditionally American, values.
There’s no doubt the MSM has raised the dander of conservatives and libertarians, and for good reason. The newscaster plenty of people cite as an example of fair news, Walter Cronkite, wasn’t fair at all. Douglas Brinkley’s book Cronkite, written with participation from the ex-CBS News anchor’s family, showed Cronkite wasn’t biased, especially to Barry Goldwater. There’s also the stupidity of Dan Rather, who pushed the idea ex-President George W. Bush figured out a way to skip out on his service in the National Guard.
These are examples of biased press, and should cause people pause. It’s totally okay if someone decides to find another source for a story because it was written by an outlet which may or may not give someone a fair shot. That’s up to individuals, not the government. Yet, biased press is very much protected by the First Amendment. In fact, biased press is free press, whether it makes conservatives, libertarians, liberals, or socialists happy or furious. Federalists and Anti-Federalists used the press to put out their opinions on whether the Constitution should be approved. Jeffersonians used the press to get their viewpoints out to the masses.
It’s also important to remember it’s not just “conservatives” who have had issues with the press. California Senator Dianne Feinstein suggested only “real reporters” deserved to be protected in a 2013 media shield law (which should just be the First Amendment, but I digress). Her amendment thankfully failed.
But it shows both parties have issues with outlets which don’t give them favorable press, and there are politicians in both parties who want to see the press restricted. All political ideologies, especially those who believe in freedom and liberty, should reject this wholeheartedly.
If President Donald Trump thinks that he can control the media; he is very highly mistaken. I voted for this man; to tackle trade, secure the boarder and straighten out our fiscal mess. I did NOT vote for a fascist. This whole idea smacks of the German Nazi nonsense of the 1940’s and it needs to be stood up to and stopped.
This is America and here, we do not control the press, ever. End of Discussion.
WASHINGTON — Phone records and intercepted calls show that members of Donald J. Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and other Trump associates had repeated contacts with senior Russian intelligence officials in the year before the election, according to four current and former American officials.
American law enforcement and intelligence agencies intercepted the communications around the same time they were discovering evidence that Russia was trying to disrupt the presidential election by hacking into the Democratic National Committee, three of the officials said. The intelligence agencies then sought to learn whether the Trump campaign was colluding with the Russians on the hacking or other efforts to influence the election.
The officials interviewed in recent weeks said that, so far, they had seen no evidence of such cooperation.
But the intercepts alarmed American intelligence and law enforcement agencies, in part because of the amount of contact that was occurring while Mr. Trump was speaking glowingly about the Russian president, Vladimir V. Putin. At one point last summer, Mr. Trump said at a campaign event that he hoped Russian intelligence services had stolen Hillary Clinton’s emails and would make them public.
The officials said the intercepted communications were not limited to Trump campaign officials, and included other associates of Mr. Trump. On the Russian side, the contacts also included members of the government outside of the intelligence services, they said. All of the current and former officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because the continuing investigation is classified.
Here is my prediction as to what will happen to the Trump Administration:
Now, based upon the reaction of the leftist media, you would have thought that President-elect Trump donned a Klan uniform and burned a cross on the White House lawn. But, he didn’t. He basically told Lewis to clean up his own backyard, before criticizing him.
President-elect Donald Trump is about to learn a cold, hard lesson in Washington politics, when it comes to race. There are scared cows that you do not tip, and John Lewis is one of them. In fact, half of the Democratic in D.C. won’t be there for his swearing-in.
It is sad really, and it is an example of how bad politics in this century has become.
While looking at this article here, I happened to have stumble upon this video. Yes, this does bother me about our next President.
The video:
Perhaps this man is correct:
Olbermann’s bombast and personality aside….the next 8 years and yes, there will be 8 years; are going to be very interesting. I haven’t started regretting my vote yet…. But, I am going to be watching….very closely.
For all his known vulnerabilities, Trump has often proven to be a highly effective operator when he focuses on getting what he wants. That’s exactly what worries left-wing groups and Democrats. Having underestimated him for so long, they now fear he won’t easily be forced to slow down or change course as he moves to overturn their agenda. – Source: Trump Moves Right, Pleasing Conservatives, Alarming Democrats | National Review
This is coming from a political rag that had zero, zilch, Nada, nothing to say about Donald Trump during the election. As far as his “known vulnerabilities”, the one he has is that he does not have his nose stuck up the butt of the neocon Republican establishment.
As far as Donald Trump is concerned; the proof is in the pudding. I am taking a wait and see approach to him, just like I did President Obama. If things change, I will have nothing bad to say about him. If they do not, I will criticize him, just like I did Obama. Talk is cheap. I want action, and so far, I have not seen anything great out of Trump; just a bunch of talk.
Former Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) argues the Democratic Party will not win elections if the liberal wing of the party takes over.
“Here is my fear about the future of the Democratic Party. In a way, relatively speaking, Hillary Clinton was representative of … center-left of the Democratic Party, not the pure left,” Lieberman said in a radio interview with John Catsimatidis on Sunday.
“Now I think there will be a real attempt by the left-left of the Democratic Party to take over the party, and I don’t think that’s the way to go to make it an effective party,” he continued.“It’s certainly not the party that I got drawn to … it’s not the party that I worked so hard for when Bill Clinton was president and it’s not going to be a winning party.”
Sen. Lieberman also warned:
“To me, both parties better watch out not to go back to the extremes — left and right — and not working with each other. I think that the public really wants both parties to get together, work together and solve some of the problems of our country, make the future better,” he said.
Sen. Lieberman is absolutely correct. The Democratic Party, as a whole, from 2007 until now has lurched further to the left, than it was back when Bill Clinton lost. They have embraced such nonsense as “Social Justice Warrior” idiotic nonsense, they have taken political correctness to a maddening extreme and it shows; many people who I know personally, who were life long Democrats, basically decided that the Democratic Party did not represent them anymore and voted for Trump.
The truth is that the Democratic Party needs to get its act together or risk being relegated to the dustbin of history; where people talk about a once great party that destroyed itself from within. This happening, would be a shame; because the truth is folks, the Democratic Party was responsible for some of the greatest achievements in the early twentieth century, that made the lives of the working middle class in this Country, so much better.
Things like: Social Security, Medicare, Labor Laws, Child Labor Laws, 40 hour work week — all of those much needed accomplishments, were done by the Democrats.
All of that to be thrown to the wind, because of a few uppity extremist minorities? This seems quite foolish. I would hope that the Democratic Party would come to its senses.
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Secondly, for all of the bad things I might have said about now former President Obama, I will say this. President Obama is doing the precise thing that he should be doing. Like his predecessor, George W. Bush, he is not going to second guess the current President. After the election of President Obama, President George W. Bush went back to Texas, returned to Private life and refused, even the most ardent requests to even remotely criticize his successor. This is precisely how these sort of affairs should be handled. President Obama had his chance, did his job and now it is someone Else’s job. This is how it works in a Constitutional Republic, a President serves his four year term, if he is lucky and does a good job, he gets a second term by an election; after that he becomes a private citizen by a peaceful transfer of power. I comment President Obama for keeping with that tradition.
