Pittsburgh

UPDATE 4:13 pm ET: The death toll has now been raised to 11 according to Allegheny Director of Public Safety Wendell Hissrich who added that six individuals were also injured in the shooting which include four police officers and doesn’t include the suspect.

No children are among the dead.

It’s believed the suspect had an assault riffle and three handguns during the shooting. He’s being treated for multiple gunshot wounds and is in fair condition. It’s also assumed that the suspect’s wounds were as a result of police fire and not self inflicted.

The suspect is also to believed to have entered the synagogue and murdered the 11 worshipers before exiting the building where he was met by a Pittsburgh uniformed officer who engaged the suspect. The uniformed officer did suffer injuries in the gun exchange and  it’s reported that the suspect who has been identified as Robert Bowers re-entered to building to hide from the SWAT team.

The FBI special agent in charge called the scene the most horrific scene he’s ever seen.

UPDATE 3:47 pm ET: 10 individuals have now been confirmed killed in the attack this morning at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu also released the following statement concerning what happened today.

UPDATE 1:25 pm ET: The shooting has now been considered a hate crime and the FBI has officially taken over the investigation.

UPDATE 1:15 pm ET: The suspect in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting has been identified as 46-year-old Robert Bowers.

There are also six confirmed injuries including the police officers who have non-life threatening injuries according to Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich. There is also no official confirmation on the number of dead however earlier reports were indicating that number was as high as 10.

Hissrich also confirmed there’s no active threat to the surrounding community at this time.

UPDATE 12:35 pm ET: Donald Trump has released a statement on Twitter saying he’s spoken to the governor and mayor and take further on the situation in Pittsburgh during an event at the Future Farmers of America.

Donald Trump also said what happened isn’t a gun issue seemingly pointing to there being too many guns but that there wasn’t anyone with guns inside to protect the synagogue.

Trump also suggested that the United States needs to stiffen up the death penalty laws.

UPDATE 12:30 pm ET: Below is reported police audio.

https://twitter.com/CommissionerKY/status/1056204747785601024

UPDATE 12:17 pm ET: According now to multiple reports, the death toll has been raised to 10.

The shooter entered the synagogue yelling “All Jews Must Die” as he opened fire on the worshippers. He has also been identified as a 46-year-old white male, heavyset with a beard. We do have his name but will withhold here until there’s more confirmation.

At least eight have been killed and 12 people shot in a shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue Saturday morning.

The shooting took place at the Tree of Life Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood in Pittsburgh during three different services that were taking place after 9:45 AM ET.

After a gunfight with authorities, the suspect did give himself up and is now in police custody.

Stay tuned to EMPIRE News as this story continues to develop.

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