The Charges Against The Gunman In The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting Explained
It was never in doubt whether Robert D. Bowers committed the horrific acts he was accused of, and accordingly, in mid-June 2023, the man responsible for the worst attack on Jewish people in U.S. history was found guilty on all 63 federal charges against him, CNN reports. Although Bowers pleaded not guilty, even his own defense team admitted in 2018 that Bowers indiscriminately killed 11 people and injured at least six others at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, according to The New York Times.
Bowers was convicted on 11 counts of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death; the same number of counts for hate crimes resulting in death; and eight counts of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs involving an attempt to kill and use of a dangerous weapon, resulting in bodily injury to public safety officers. Bowers was also found guilty of two counts of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs involving an attempt to kill and use of a dangerous weapon resulting in bodily injury.
Rounding out the 63 counts, Bowers was also convicted on two counts of hate crimes involving an attempt to kill, four counts of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs involving use of a dangerous weapon resulting in bodily injury to public safety officers; and 25 counts of discharging a firearm in a crime of violence, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. In response to Bowers' conviction, Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said (via CNN), "It is justice that's delayed, but it is justice served."
Bowers offered to plead guilty to save his own life
Prosecutors in the case had previously turned down Robert D. Bowers' offer to plead guilty on all counts to escape the death penalty, NBC News reports. With Bowers found guilty of all charges against him, the next step was sentencing. Bowers could face imprisonment with no chance for parole, or possibly be sentenced to death. Bowers' sentencing hearing was expected only a matter of weeks after his guilty verdicts were announced.
In October 2018, Bowers brought a number of weapons into the Tree of Life Synagogue (including an AR-15 style assault rifle), shouted anti-semitic slurs, and began shooting. Among the six people he injured were four police officers who responded to the scene. Bowers was also injured in the resulting gunfire. Bowers was known to post antisemitic and anti-immigrant propaganda on far-right social media networks. Per The New York Times, Pittsburgh FBI special agent Robert Jones called the Tree of Life shooting the "most horrific crime scene" he'd seen in more than 20 years with the agency.
He could still seek a mental health defense
With Robert D. Bowers found guilty on all 63 charges against him related to the Tree of Life synagogue shooting his legal representation had 24 hours to consider a mental health defense. The Bowers conviction and possible death sentence comes amid calls from Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to abolish capital punishment in the state (per PA.gov).
Related to the charges of religious belief obstruction, Bowers' defense argued at his trial that he committed the acts out of hatred for immigrants — not Jews. During the trial Bowers' defense attorney Judy Clarke said (via ABC News), "There will be no question that this was a planned act and that he killed 11 people." She only asked jurors to scrutinize Bowers' intent.
In response to the Bowers' conviction, Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt (pictured) also said (via NBC News), "We welcome the jury's verdict today and believe that justice has been served. This attack was the deadliest act of antisemitic violence in American history — but the hate and conspiratorial thinking that fueled this violence has not gone away. We thank the jurors for their service, and we hope this brings closure to those who lost loved ones five years ago."