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Timeline of events at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH — On Saturday morning, a gunman opened fire inside the Temple of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood, killing 11 people. Below is a timeline of events based on police reports and Channel 11 reporting.

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9:50 a.m.: Robert Bowers enters the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill armed with an AR-15 and three Glock handguns.

9:54 a.m.: Emergency dispatchers receive multiple calls for gunshots fired at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill.

10 a.m.: Channel 11 got the first report of a possible shooting inside the synagogue.

10:15 a.m.: Channel 11 reporter Lori Houy arrived on the scene to an enormous police presence.

10:35 a.m.: Pittsburgh Public Safety puts out a tweet. "Alert: There is an active shooting in the area of Wilkins and Shady, avoid the area."

11:05 a.m.: Channel 11 gets reports that multiple people are injured during shooting in Squirrel Hill. Neighbors reported hearing bursts of gunfire.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for the victims and those affected by the shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue. CLICK HERE to donate.

11:15 a.m.: Channel 11 sources tell us the suspect is surrendering. At this time sources tell us multiple people are dead. Police say three officers are shot.

11:46 a.m.: Channel 11 starts hearing from people connected to some of the victims who survived the shooting.

11:50 a.m.: Governor Wolf arrives on scene for briefing from FBI and law enforcement officers.

11:55 a.m.: President Donald Trump sends out his first tweet regarding the shooting.

11:55 a.m.: Governor Tom Wolf issues statement on shooting. Calls it an "absolute tragedy."

12:15 p.m.: Target 11's Rick Earle confirms as many as 8 people dead. He also confirms were 4 officers shot and 2 are in surgery.

12:30 p.m.: New tweet from President Donald Trump.

12:40 p.m.: Channel 11 confirms suspect is 46-year-old Robert Bowers from Pittsburgh. Sources told Target 11's Rick Earle suspect was making anti-Semitic statements during surrender.

12:40 p.m.: President Trump speaks publicly about shooting in Squirrel Hill on his way to an event. Says, "It's a terrible thing that's going on with hate in our country and all over the world and something has to be done."

12:50 p.m.: Target 11's Rick Earle learns suspect is being treated at the hospital for a gunshot injury to the rib cage.

1:05 p.m.: Channel 11's Renee Wallace arrives at the Allegheny General Hospital Emergency Department. She sees security stationed outside and confirms one person connected to the shooting is inside.

1:15 p.m.: Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich confirms multiple deaths and at least 6 injuries. He says 4 officers are among the injured. Hissrich gets visibly emotional, says "It's a very horrific crime scene, one of the worst I've ever seen." Hissrich confirms no explosive found in or around the synagogue.

1:30 p.m.: Hotline set up for family members looking for more information. 412 432 4400. Reunification center is set up Chatham University.

1:30 p.m.: Channel 11's Gabriella DeLuca confirms four patients at UPMC Presbyterian.

2:01 p.m.:  Channel 11's Rick Earle confirmed through sources that three of the police officers are stable, and the fourth remains in surgery.

2:35 p.m.: Diocese of Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik spoke about the incident after participating in a day of recollection. Zubik said he instructed all of his priests to do a special prayer for the Jewish community during today's masses.

2:45 p.m.: Sources told Channel 11's Courtney Brennan that police had on Dormont had interactions with Bowers in 2004.

3:16 p.m.: Police began reopening roads around the shooting scene in Squirrel Hill.

3:23 p.m.: A drivers license photo of Bowers was confirmed for Channel 11 by police sources.

3:25 p.m.: Police have surrounded an apartment complex in Baldwin where Bowers lives.

3:29 p.m.: A law enforcement source told Channel 11's Rick Earle that Bowers had one rifle and three pistols when he opened fire inside the Tree of Life Synagogue.

3:31 p.m.: A moment of silence was held for the victims before the University of Pittsburgh vs Duke University football game at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.

3:40 p.m.: Allegheny General Hospital, where the shooter is being treated, remains on lockdown. Channel 11's Renee Wallace is outside the building learning more.

3:46 p.m.: Police are at a UPS store in Bridgeville where it is believed that the suspect worked.

4:15 p.m.: No children were among the 11 people killed during Saturday morning's shooting at Squirrel Hill's Tree of Life synagogue, authorities said.

“These incidents usually occur in other cities. Today the nightmare has hit home in the city of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said during a news conference.

4:20 p.m.: Two police officers and two SWAT officers wounded in the synagogue shooting are each in stable condition, officials said during a news conference.

The two police officers were first responders. The two SWAT officers were shot during a confrontation inside the building.

4:25 p.m.: Bob Jones, special agent in charge of the FBI Pittsburgh, said everything about the suspect's life -- including his home, vehicle and social media -- will be looked at during the investigation.

No knowledge the suspect, Robert Bowers, was known to law enforcement before Saturday, Jones said.

“This is the most horrific crime scene I’ve seen in 22 years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” Jones said.

4:45 p.m.: Four people were taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, one person was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital and one more person was taken to Allegheny General Hospital, a UPMC doctor said.

UPMC Presbyterian Hospital:

  • A 61-year-old woman had soft tissue injuries that needed to be cleaned
  • A 70-year-old man suffered gunshots wounds in his torso involving major organs and was last listed in critical condition
  • A 55-year-old officer had multiple extremity wounds
  • Another officer had soft tissue injuries and grazing wounds

UPMC Mercy Hospital

  • An officer suffered an extremity injury that required intervention and evaluation in the operating room

5:30 p.m.: Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the Justice Department intends to file hate crime and other charges against the man accused in the synagogue shooting that killed 11 people, according to The Associated Press.

In a statement Saturday, Sessions said the killings were “reprehensible and utterly repugnant to the values of this nation.”

6:00 p.m.: President Trump told reporters that he has plans to travel to Pittsburgh following this tragedy. Details of the trip have not been confirmed.

8:08 p.m.: A neighbor of the man suspected of killing 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue Sunday says Robert Bowers was so nondescript that it almost made him unusual.

The neighbor, who did not want Channel 11 to use his name, said Bowers moved into the apartment next door to him about two years ago. He said Bowers never gave any kind of indication that he was anti-Semitic or had tendencies toward hatred or violence.

8:49 p.m.: We're still learning more about the 11 people who were killed, but family members told Channel 11's Rick Earle they presume Daniel Stein is among them.

Stein went to Saturday's service at Tree of Life Synagogue alone, and his family has not been able to get in touch with him since.

9:01 p.m.: The federal criminal complaint filed against Robert Bowers details the 29 federal criminal county's he's charged with and the weapons he used during the shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue.

The complaint said Bowers made statements “evincing an animus towards people of Jewish faith.”

Bowers told one law enforcement officer, “they’re committed genocide to my people. I just want to kill Jews.” Bowers repeated comments regarding genocide, his desire to kill Jewish people and that Jewish people needed to die, the federal complaint said.

READ THE FULL COMPLAINT HERE

According to the complaint, Bowers had four weapons on him including three Glock .357 handguns as well as a Colt AR-15 model SP1.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms confirmed the weapons were not manufactured in Pennsylvania and at some point, after being manufactured, they traveled in interstate commerce to Pennsylvania, the complaint said.

Bowers is set to appear in federal court on Monday at 1:30 p.m.

10:20 p.m.: President Trump has ordered flags flown at half-staff at federal buildings in "solemn respect" for the synagogue shooting victims.

12:48 a.m. Sunday

The criminal complaint from Saturday's incident outlines more information about what happened. Of the 11 people killed, 3 were women and 8 were men.

When SWAT officers entered the synagogue, Bowers went to the third floor of the building, according to the criminal complaint. During an exchange of gunfire there, two SWAT officers were both shot multiple times.

While Bowers was being taken into custody, he made comments that he wanted all Jews to die and that they were committing genocide to his people, according to the criminal complaint.

Allegheny County is now charging Bowers with:

  • 11 counts of criminal homicide
  • 6 counts of criminal attempted homicide
  • 6 counts of aggravated assault
  • 13 counts of ethnic intimidation

7:41 a.m. Sunday

Pope Francis said he's grieving with Pittsburgh's Jewish community and denounced the "inhuman act of violence" during prayers Sunday in St. Peter's Square.

Francis prayed for those killed, injured and their families.  He also prayed for God "to help us to extinguish the flames of hatred that develop in our societies, reinforcing the sense of humanity, respect for life and civil and moral values."

RELATED:

9:40 a.m. Sunday

The 11 people killed in Saturday's mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue have been identified.

  1. Joyce Fienberg, 75, of Oakland

  2. Richard Gottfried, 65, of Ross Township

  3. Rose Mallinger, 97, of Squirrel Hill

  4. Jerry Rabinowitz, 66, of Edgewood

  5. Cecil Rosenthal, 59, of Squirrel Hill

  6. David Rosenthal, 54, of Squirrel Hill

  7. Bernice Simon, 84, of Wilkinsburg

  8. Sylvan Simon, 87, of Wilkinsburg

  9. Daniel Stein, 71, of Squirrel Hill

  10. Melvin Wax, 88, of Squirrel Hill

  11. Irving Younger, 69, of Mt. Washington

We also got the following update from UPMC about the victims being treated at both Presby and Mercy hospitals:

UPDATE AS OF 8:45 AM ON SUNDAY, OCT. 28, 2018: At UPMC Presbyterian, A 61-year-old female is in stable condition; a 70-year-old male is in critical condition; a 55-year-old male officer is in stable condition; and a 40-year-old male officer is in critical condition. More ⬇️. <a href="https://t.co/8zxuaWI370">pic.twitter.com/8zxuaWI370</a>

The crime scene will likely take up to a week to process and the FBI is getting assistance from several regional offices.

The intersection of Wilkins and Shady avenues will also remain closed during that time.

There were three different locations where the victims were found, according to federal agents.

5:00 p.m. Sunday

An inter-faith vigil is underway at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall. Among the expected speakers are Mayor Bill Peduto, County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, and leaders of several groups that worshipped at the Tree of Life synagogue.

9:30 p.m. Sunday

The U.S. attorney in Pittsburgh says he's seeking approval for the death penalty against Tree of Life synagogue shooting suspect Robert Bowers.

9:45 a.m. Monday

Suspected synagogue shooter Robert Bowers was discharged from Allegheny General Hospital.

1:40 p.m. Monday

Robert Bowers appeared in a federal courtroom in a wheelchair. The only words he said publicly were "yes" and "yes sir." Bowers was assigned a court-appointed attorney and then remanded into the custody of U.S. Marshals.

Bowers preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday.

U.S. Attorney Scott Brady: Robert Bowers is detained in jail without bond. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday. <a href="https://t.co/F9cxBXjsJa">https://t.co/F9cxBXjsJa</a> <a href="https://t.co/Qhm530sy0J">pic.twitter.com/Qhm530sy0J</a>

2:38 p.m. Monday

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump announced they will visit Pittsburgh Tuesday.

5:10 p.m. Monday

UPMC has released the updated conditions of four of the people shot at the Tree of Life synagogue.

UPDATE AS OF 5 PM ON MONDAY, OCT. 29, 2018: ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/ajp6IPnseZ">pic.twitter.com/ajp6IPnseZ</a>

A 61-year-old woman is in stable condition, as is a 55-year-old male officer.

Both a 70-year-old man and a 40-year-old male officer remain in critical condition.

4:30 a.m. Tuesday

The first funerals for the victims of the synagogue shooting are scheduled for Tuesday

10:30 a.m. Tuesday

Mayor Bill Peduto will not meet with President Trump during his visit Tuesday, according to a spokesperson who said the mayor’s attention is solely on the grieving families.

3:01 p.m. Tuesday

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has completed its investigation into the guns used by suspected synagogue shooter Robert Bowers and found all of the weapons were purchased and possessed legally by Bowers.

3:44 p.m. Tuesday

President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump land in Pittsburgh.

3:51 p.m. Tuesday

Pittsburgh Police have released the names of the injured police officers and their conditions.

  • Timothy Matson -- Multiple gunshot wounds (still in hospital)
  • Daniel Mead -- Gunshot wound to the hand (still in hospital)
  • Anthony Burke -- Gunshot wound to the hand (released from hospital)
  • Michael Smidga -- Graze wound and/or shrapnel wound to the head (released)

7:05 p.m. Tuesday

A 40-year-old Pittsburgh police officer was released from UPMC Presbyterian on Tuesday, the hospital announced.

6 a.m. Wednesday

Funeral services for the 11 victims of the synagogue shooting will continue Wednesday when Joyce Fienberg, Melvin Wax and Irving Younger are laid to rest.

2 p.m. Wednesday

A federal grand jury indicted the synagogue shooting suspect on 44 counts, including obstruction of justice, use of a firearm to commit murder and obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs.

4:30 a.m. Thursday

Husband and wife Bernice and Sylvan Simon, as well as Richard Gottfried, will be remembered Thursday, the third day of funeral services for the 11 victims of the synagogue shooting.

10:11 a.m. Thursday

The synagogue shooting suspect pleaded not guilty to federal charges during an arraignment Thursday, one day after a 44-count indictment was issued. A jury trial was requested.

4:30 a.m. Friday

Rose Mallinger, 97, will be laid to rest Friday, marking the final funeral service for the 11 victims killed in the synagogue shooting. Her daughter was also shot in the attack but survived.

7:00 a.m. Saturday 11/3

One week ago, a gunman walked into the Tree of Life Synagogue and opened fire.

Eleven people were killed, several others were hurt and our city was changed forever. But we've seen how incredible the people of Pittsburgh are, as we unite as one.

Mourners from all faiths gather for Shabbat following Squirrel Hill attack

Shabbat started Friday night when people of all faiths joined together at Temple Sinai in Squirrel Hill to show solidarity and mourn the lives lost earlier this week.

Future Updates will be added.

Cox Media Group

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