A federal jury has found Robert Bowers, the man responsible for the deadly 2018 shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, eligible for the death penalty. Bowers had previously been found guilty in June on all 63 charges against him, including 11 counts of hate crimes resulting in death. The decision means that the focus of the trial will now shift to whether Bowers should be sentenced to death or to life in prison. The jury will hear from survivors and loved ones of the victims before making their decision.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Bowers had planned the attack and had a clear intent to harm Jewish people. Bowers allegedly told investigators after his arrest that he wanted to kill Jewish people. Defense attorney Judy Clarke admitted at trial that Bowers was the shooter but asked the jurors to “scrutinize his intent” in the attack. The defense argued that Bowers had schizophrenia and epilepsy and was not fully capable of forming the intent to commit the crime.
The shooting, which took place on October 27, 2018, was the deadliest act of antisemitism in American history, killing 11 congregants and wounding six others. Bowers had offered to plead guilty if the death penalty was taken off the table, but prosecutors turned him down. The trial was split into three parts: the guilt phase, the eligibility phase, and the sentencing selection phase.
The sentencing selection phase will begin on Monday, during which the jury will consider all aggravating and mitigating factors before making their decision. Bowers’ attack left a lasting impact on the community, and survivors and loved ones of the victims will speak to the jury during the next phase of the trial.
The New Light Congregation released a statement following the decision, saying that while progress had been made in combating antisemitism, there was still work to be done. “This trial is an important step in drawing a line between speech and action. We commend the jury on their difficult work and trust in their judgment as we enter the final sentencing phase of the trial,” the statement read.
Bowers’ attack on the Tree of Life synagogue was premeditated and motivated by hate, and the decision to pursue the death penalty reflects the severity of his crime. The trial will continue next week as the jury hears from survivors and loved ones of the victims before making their final decision on Bowers’ sentence.