Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial — live: Survivors recall hiding in closet as Robert Bowers faces death penalty

Follow updates on the trial of gunman accused of killing 11 worshippers at Tree of Life on 27 October 2018

Attorney Scott W. Brady comments following Pittsburgh synagogue shooter Robert Bowers' court appearance

The gunman accused of murdering 11 in a mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in 2018 is now on trial in a federal courtroom in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

On 27 October 2018, Robert Bowers, then 46, entered the synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood of the city armed with three handguns, an AR-15 rifle and a trove of magazines and ammunition.

Inside, he opened fire on congregants in what marks the deadliest antisemitic attack in American history.

Eight men and three women – aged from 54 to 97 – died in the massacre.

After numerous delays, the now-50-year-old is finally standing trial for more than 60 federal charges including obstruction of free exercise of religion resulting in death and hate crimes resulting in death.

During opening arguments on Tuesday, Mr Bowers’ attorneys admitted that he was responsible for the massacre but claimed that he acted on “an irrational motive” and had “misguided intent”.

Prosecutors meanwhile pointed out that, in the months leading up the shooting, the suspect had been spewing bigoted and antisemitic vitriol online.

If convicted, he could face the death penalty.

Key Points

• Robert Bowers on trial for 2018 mass shooting
• Eleven victims killed in Tree of Life synagogue shooting
• Bowers faces death penalty if convicted
• Survivors recall hiding in closet to escape gunman
• Bullet-damaged prayer book and Torah rescued from Holocaust among evidence presented

[1 June 2023 17:00 · Graig Graziosi]

Survivor received ALICE training a year before the shooting

Stephen Weiss, who testified on Thursday, previously spoke about undergoing active shooter training as part of his work with the synagogue.

In September 2017, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s then Community Security Director Brad Orsini insisted that educators in the organization — including Mr Weiss — take the training. Mr Weiss said at the time he was sceptical as to the efficacy of the course.

“My first thought was why do we need to worry about this?” he told the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle. “This is such a waste of time.”

But he went anyway. A year later he used what he learned to help himself and others escape a mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue.

On Thursday he testified to that fact at the trial of accused gunman Robert Bowers.