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Pittsburgh, PA – Four police officers were among the at least 17 people shot at the Tree of Life synagogue on Saturday, but one “independent reporter” suggested that the officers were to blame.
In a tweet, Joshua Albert said, “Can we stop gushing over law enforcement every damn time they stop a conservative extremist terrorist/mass shooter? For starters, they are simply doing their job. Secondly, and more importantly, cops are why we have Trump in the first fucking place. Blood is on their hands.”
Albert claims bylines in Philly Mag and Daily Beast, among other publications which are out of business.
Employed reporter Jeremy Harris, who works at KUTV confronted him after the tweet.
Others echoed Albert’s hatred toward police and tried to tie the police officers who rushed into gunfire with the killer.
Others just suggested that the officers who were shot were racist.
At around 10 a.m. the gunman entered the synagogue and opened fire while yelling “all Jews must die!”
During his shooting spree, he killed at least eight people, and shot the first responding officers.
During the extended gunfight, the gunman shot a SWAT officer and was injured himself. He eventually surrendered to authorities. The extent of his injuries are unclear.
At least one officer is in critical condition.
The ADL has declared this to be the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in U.S. history.
In a statement, ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said:
Our hearts break for the families of those killed and injured at the Tree of Life Synagogue, and for the entire Jewish community of Pittsburgh. This is likely the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States. We are actively engaged with law enforcement to support their investigation and call on authorities to investigate this as a hate crime.
It is simply unconscionable for Jews to be targeted during worship on a Sabbath morning, and unthinkable that it would happen in the United States of America in this day and age. Unfortunately, this violent attack – the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in the United States since 2014 – occurs at time when ADL has reported a historic increase in both anti-Semitic incidents and anti-Semitic online harassment. As we mourn those lost and search for answers, ADL will remain steadfast in its mission to fight anti-Semitism wherever and whenever it may occur.
President Trump spoke out against antisemitism and the widespread persecution of Jews.
Vice President Mike Pence declared the attack to be evil, and an assault on our Freedom of Religion.
Bowers is a 48-year-old male who was described during the attack as a “heavy-set white male with a beard,” according to KDKA.
He was reportedly armed with an AR-15 style rifle and multiple handguns.
Bowers was active on social media platform Gab, where his bio says, “jews are the children of satan. (john 8:44) — —- the lord jesus christ is come in the flesh.”
On the platform he allegedly called President Trump a “globalist” and said that he didn’t vote for him.
“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.”
“#Qanon” references a conspiracy theory where an anonymous internet poster claims to be a government insider fighting an anti-American shadow government.
President Trump has responded to the attack saying that the event was far more devastating than originally thought, and said that the synagogue should have had armed security.