Transcript for 11 dead, at least 6 others injured when shooter opens fire inside Pittsburgh synagogu
Good morning, America as we come to you in the wake of yet another mass shooting in America. This time at a jewish house of worship whose name now has added point January si, the tree of life synagogue. It’s been called the deadliest attack on the jewish community. A man armed with an assault style rifle and three handguns walked into a synagogue and opened fire. New information has been pouring in overnight on the suspect, the charges he’ll face and the reaction of the local community as well as the president of the United States. Whit Johnson is on the ground leading our coverage. Whit, good morning to you. Good morning to you from a wet, cold and windy Pittsburgh. An additional cloud of pain and sorrow hanging over this community this morning. The tree of life congregation right behind me here, still a crime scene. Part of the area still blocked off as the FBI treats this as a federal hate crime. Here’s what we know right now. 11 people were killed, eight men, three women, six others were wounded including four police officers. Two were injured in the official confrontation with the suspect. That man identified as Robert bowers. He was shot four times in the confrontation with officers and this morning said to be in fair condition. Law enforcement trailing his social media posts. They include anti si my tick and anti refugee posts. Attorney general Jeff sessions saying charges against bowers could carry the death penalty. The tight knit community stunned by the senseless violence. Get back! Reporter: A morning of worship erupting into chaos. Police scrambling to contain an active shooter firing in the tree of life synagogue in Pittsburgh. All city units are being sent. Reporter: At 9:54 the first emergency calls come pouring in. Dozens of worshippers inside. Some reportedly attending a baby naming ceremony. At least one caller sounded like they may have been shot. Several calls of persons taking shelter within the structure. Reporter: Swat teams immediately taking fire. Police in a gun battle. Urging nearby residents to stay indoors. We’re urging people in the community to take shelter and stay in place. My brother got out of the car and was like sir, you need to call 911. Reporter: Minutes later teams charging the building. Four down. D.O.A. At this time. Reporter: Then contact. Contact! Contact. Shots fired! Reporter: The shooter facing off with the officers. Wounding four. The suspect is talking about all these Jews need to die. We’re still communicating with him. We have a surrender in progress. Reporter: The gunman shot and arrested after 20 minutes inside the synagogue, a community left speechless and mourning. My kid is away at school. He’s watching this on the news. I can’t tell him everybody is okay. I don’t know. It’s a very horrific crime scene. It’s one of the worst I’ve seen. Reporter: The attack on the tight-knit squirrel hill neighborhood resulting in 11 dead. At least six injured. I’m turn apart. We’re shocked by it and it we’re numb. Reporter: The man behind the deadly attack, 46-year-old Robert bowers taken into custody with an ar-15 assault rifle and three handguns. Bowers cultivating an anti-semitic persona online particularly on a site called gab that’s proven popular with white nationalists who feel other platforms unfairly censor their views. Authorities charging him with 29 criminal counts. Please know that justice will be swift and severe. ?????? Reporter: We were there overnight as hundreds came together for a touching vigil remembering the lives lost and those still recovering. Everyone here knows how special squirrel hill is. It’s a community, it’s a group of people. Everyone knows someone who is going to be affected by this. Everyone is going to be affected by this. ?????? You saw that amazing outpouring of love and support in this community. One man I spoke with said an attack on one religion is an attack on faith in general and an attack on Americans. Just an incredible outpouring. It was amazing to see all those people coming together.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
