By David Montero
Los Angeles Times
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh synagogue shooting suspect Robert Bowers made his first appearance in federal court Monday afternoon to face charges stemming from the weekend rampage that left 11 dead.
U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Robert Mitchell scheduled a preliminary hearing for Bowers on Thursday morning. He will remain in custody and is being held without bond.
The hearing was short — about 10 minutes — and Bowers came into the courtroom by wheelchair. The 46-year-old suspect had been wounded in a shootout with police Saturday before being captured, and had been released from Allegheny General Hospital earlier Monday.
He barely spoke, only answering “Yes, sir” to the judge when he was asked if he had requested a lawyer. He is represented by public defenders.
U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said after the hearing that the charges were brought after “the horrific acts of violence” that devastated the Tree of Life Synagogue.
Brady said prosecutors will lay out evidence Thursday during the preliminary hearing that they believe will show “that Robert Bowers murdered 11 people who were exercising their religious beliefs and shot or injured six others —including four of whom were police officers.”
Prosecutors have 30 days to present a case to a grand jury, Brady said.
Bowers faces 29 counts, including murder with a firearm, and several hate crime charges such as obstructing the exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death. Federal prosecutors have said they are seeking the death penalty.
Bowers is also facing state charges, including 11 counts of homicide.
The shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue on Saturday left the predominantly Jewish community of Squirrel Hill shaken, and a vigil held Sunday night drew thousands and featured emotional comments —along with messages for peace.
Funerals for the 11 killed are scheduled to begin Tuesday. There were six wounded in the shooting.
Bowers had a history of posting anti-Semitic and anti-immigrant statements on social media, and his posts specifically mention a Jewish-founded nonprofit that helps resettle refugees from around the world. According to the federal charging document, he made statements during the shooting about wanting to kill Jewish people.
