Pittsburgh mayor calls synagogue shooting ‘darkest day’ in city history

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto (D) on Sunday called a shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue the “darkest day” in the city’s history.

At a press conference flanked by Pittsburgh officials, the mayor pledged his administration’s support to the local Jewish community and the city at large.

{mosads}”To the victims’ families, to the victims’ friends, we are here for you as a community of one,” Peduto said Sunday shortly after the names of the 11 people killed in Saturday’s attack were released.

“We will be here to help you through this horrific episode,” he continued. “We’ll get through this darkest day in Pittsburgh’s history.”

Peduto’s comments came minutes after the Allegheny County medical examiner released the names of the victims killed by a gunman, suspected to be 46-year-old Robert Bowers, in an attack in the city’s historically Jewish Squirrel Hill neighborhood.

Bowers, who surrendered to police after being injured, was charged with more than a dozen federal crimes following the rampage and remains in the hospital under guard, according to city officials.

Four police officers were injured in the shooting, city officials added Sunday. One officer has been released from the hospital, while officials said a second hopes to be released today.

The shooting is being investigated by the FBI as a hate crime, as Bowers allegedly shouted an anti-Semitic epithet upon beginning his attack.

President Trump on Saturday condemned the violence while praising law enforcement and suggesting that places of worship should pursue armed security in the future to prevent attacks.

“I heard the police did an incredible job, and as you know, numerous police were badly injured. But, again, law enforcement did a fantastic job,” the president said.

“If they had protection inside, the results would have been far better,” Trump added to reporters.

“This is a dispute that will always exist, I think, but if they had some protection inside the temple, maybe it could have been a very much different situation.”