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Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooter Used ‘AR-15 Style Rifle’, Handguns to Target Congregants

Dan Zimmerman
Pittsburgh Synagogue shooting

courtesy Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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The man who opened fire in a Pittsburgh synagogue this morning reportedly used an AR-style rifle and multiple handguns to murder at least eight and wound six more including three police officers.

According to those who examined his social media accounts before they were taken down, he targeted the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood because of its association with HIAS, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society which brought refugees from all around the world to America.

According to heavy.com, the synagogue had undergone prior safety drills, but it isn’t clear yet as to whether anyone in the building was armed when the shooter attacked, reportedly yelling “All Jews must die!”

The synagogue’s former president Michael Eisenberg said that while he was president, he had the Department of Homeland Security come to Tree of Life. Eisenberg told the Post Gazette the agency ran safety drills. Eisenberg added, “We had to step it up as far as security, although there had been no threats. The building isn’t designed for today as far as security purposes.” Eisenberg went on to tell CBS Pittsburgh that a maintenance worker who escaped was able to do so because of the DHS’ work. Eisenberg said, “He was able to get out of the building… because the exit doors were working well. I just can’t tell you how thankful I am just to do that one task that Homeland Security told us to do.”

The shooter reportedly crawled out of the building after being wounded by police and has been taken into custody.

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