The first fatality of the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre that claimed 11 lives on Saturday has been named as thousands gathered for a community vigil in the devastated Squirrel Hill neighborhood.
Family members told WPXI-TV that they presume Daniel Stein is among the dead.
Stein attended Sabbath services at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill alone.
Since news of the shooting, his family has been unable to reach him.
Family members told local media that they presume Daniel Stein (above) is among the dead
Stein attended Sabbath services at the Tree of Life Synagogue alone
Since news of the shooting, his family has been unable to reach him
Stein has been described by friends as a family man and a new grandfather
Stein has been described by friends as a family man and a new grandfather, KDKA-TV reported.
In addition to the 11 killed, at least six others were wounded.
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center said three of the victims – a 61-year-old woman, a 55-year-old man, and a 27-year-old male officer – were in stable condition.
Two others – a 70-year-old man and a 40-year-old male SWAT team officer – were in critical condition.
Another officer suffered minor injuries, was treated, and then released from the hospital.
One of the victims in critical condition has been identified as Daniel Leger, 70.
One of the victims in critical condition has been identified as Daniel Leger, 70
Leger is a member of the Dor Hadash congregation, which is one of three Jewish groups that share space at the synagogue
His brother, Paul Leger, said that Daniel suffered critical injuries in the chest. ‘The doctors are cautiously optimistic,’ said Paul Leger, who is board chairman of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority
Leger is a member of the Dor Hadash congregation, which is one of three Jewish groups that share space at the synagogue, according to TribLive.
His brother, Paul Leger, said that Daniel suffered critical injuries in the chest.
‘The doctors are cautiously optimistic,’ said Paul Leger, who is board chairman of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority.
Daniel Leger is a retired nurse and chaplain. He has been described as an active member of the Dor Hadash congregation.
Paul Leger said that his brother recently underwent a second surgery.
‘I don’t think it really quite struck home,’ he said.
‘This is something like on TV.’
The other 10 fatalities have yet to be identified.
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto told CNN on Saturday that the names of the deceased will be released at 9am local time on Sunday.
This will be done at the request of the FBI, according to Peduto.
There was ‘really strong insistence by the FBI that we identify everybody with 100% accuracy before giving out any information, for the families’ sake,’ Peduto said.
The mayor added that security has also been tightened around Muslim places of worship as well as other sites that ‘would feel insecure or would need additional security.’
Robert Bowers, 46, has been identified as the suspected gunman who opened fire on a synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday. He is pictured, left, in his Gab profile picture and right in his driver’s license picture
An hour before the first reports emerged of the shooting, Bowers posted this on the social media website Gab. He was enraged by HIAS, the Hebrew Immigration Aid Society which helps Jewish migrants settle in the US, and said he couldn’t ‘sit by’ and watch ‘my people get slaughtered’
Among his anti-Semitic comments on the social network Gab are complaints about President Trump
Bowers also shared photographs of his Glock collection on the website. He used several handguns and an AR-15 in the attack. Right, his cover photo included the white supremacist number 1488
The suspected gunman who opened fire on the Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday morning has been named as 46-year-old Robert Bowers, a Trump-hating anti-Semite who regularly complained on social media about the president and ‘the infestation of Jews.’
Bowers allegedly opened fire at the Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill area of Pittsburgh shortly before 10am.
The synagogue was busier than usual with Sabbath services and because of a baby naming ceremony that had also been scheduled.
After opening fire on the congregation with three handguns and an AR-15, he was confronted by two Pittsburgh police officers who had been called to the scene as he tried to leave the building. Police say Bowers returned fire, injuring both of the cops, then retreated inside and ran to the third floor to hide.
He then engaged in a gun battle with a SWAT team and injured two of them before being shot multiple times himself and surrendering.
He is still alive, in a stable condition, and is in the hospital under the watch of police.
Federal prosecutors charged him with 29 criminal counts including violence and firearms offenses, and violating U.S. civil rights laws.
Paramedics race to get a victim from Saturday’s shooting to the hospital outside the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh
An FBI agent stands behind a police cordon and an ambulance outside the Tree of Life Synagogue on Saturday evening
The synagogue was busier than usual with Sabbath services and because of a baby naming ceremony that had also been scheduled
‘The actions of Robert Bowers represent the worst of humanity. We are dedicating the entire resources of my office to this federal hate crime investigation and prosecution,’ U.S. attorney for western Pennsylvania Scott Brady told reporters.
Earlier, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said federal prosecutors could seek the death penalty.
FBI special agent Bob Jones said the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which is leading the probe, said the crime scene was the worst he had seen in 22 years with the FBI. He said he believed Bowers was acting alone, adding: ‘We have no knowledge that he was known to law enforcement before today.’
KDKA television cited police sources as saying Bowers walked into the building and yelled ‘All Jews must die.’
Bowers had made many anti-Semitic posts online, including one early on Saturday. In another, he slammed President Donald Trump for doing nothing to stop an ‘infestation’ of the United States by Jews.
More than 3,000 people from different faiths gathered at a major intersection to honor the victims of the mass shooting.
Those in attendance sang Hebrew and English hymns and lit candles while many in the crowd embraced one another.
The vigil, a ‘prayer for healing,’ was organized by students from the nearby Allderdice High School, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
A woman holds a candle during a vigil in Squirrel Hill on Saturday to remember those that died in the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting earlier in the day
Deb Polk holds a sign as she gathers with others for a vigil in the aftermath of the deadly shooting
Crowds gathered at the intersection of Murray Avenue and Forbes Avenue in Pittsburgh for a vigil that was held at Sixth Presbyterian Church
More than 3,000 people from the Pittsburgh community gathered for the candlelight vigil on Saturday night
People sang and held candles during the gathering at Murray and Forbes avenues in Pittsburgh
Braddock, Pennsylvania Mayor John Fetterman hugs a person as they gather for the vigil on Saturday
The vigil was held just as the Jewish Sabbath was ending and observant Jews were first learning of the massacre at the synagogue
The vigil was organized by students from nearby Allderdice High School, a public high school in Squirrel Hill
The mayor of Pittsburgh said that the names of the deceased will be released on Sunday morning
Amy Gilligan hugs her daughter at the intersection of Murray Ave. and Forbes Ave in Pittsburgh on Saturday
Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the federal government would seek the death penalty and file hate crimes charges against the alleged gunman
President Donald Trump condemned the shooting as an ‘evil anti-Semitic attack’
Matthew Chinman, 49, of Squirrel Hill, hugs a fellow community member during the vigil on Saturday night
A young boy holds up a sign that reads ‘Hate and violence are not the answer’ at the vigil in Pittsburgh
Trump said lawmakers ‘should very much bring the death penalty into vogue’ and people who kill in places such as synagogues and churches ‘really should suffer the ultimate price’
President Trump said he plans to visit Pittsburgh in the near future. A crowd is seen gathering at an intersection for the vigil on Saturday night
The vigil began at Sixth Presbyterian Church, which was filled to capacity.
The church, which is known for once being the house of worship frequented by the late Fred ‘Mister’ Rogers, is located across the street from the Jewish Community Center.
Leaders of the Jewish, Presbyterian, and Muslim communities came out to show their support.
Wasi Mohamed, the executive director of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, said his community had raised $15,000 to help the Jewish community in the city recover from the tragedy.
‘Obviously we’re all heartbroken, but how many of you are angry?’ Mohamed said as those around him raised their hands.
‘And how could we not be? People were stolen from us.’
Mohamed cited a verse from the Koran which calls for responding to an evil deed by doing a better deed.
Reverend Vincent Kolb of the Sixth Presbyterian Church led a recitation of the 23rd Psalm which starts ‘The Lord is my shepherd.’
‘We long for a day when the leaves of the tree of life will be for the healing of all the peoples,’ Kolb said.
After the indoor portion of the vigil, the crowd left the church and joined hundreds who had been waiting outside as the sun set.
Students and others sang a prayer marking the end of the Jewish Sabbath.
The most overtly political moment came when some in the crowd blamed Trump and his supporters for his rhetoric against immigrants and refugees.
Others began chanting ‘Vote! Vote! Vote!’