Robert Bowers kills 11 worshippers at Tree of Life synagogue citing Jewish immigrant aid

On October 27, 2018, Robert Bowers, 46, enters the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood during Saturday morning Shabbat services and opens fire with an AR-15 rifle and three handguns, killing 11 worshippers and wounding 6 others, including 4 police officers. The attack is the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. Before entering, Bowers posts on the social network Gab: "HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I'm going in." HIAS is a Jewish nonprofit that assists refugees. Bowers uses the term "invaders" to describe refugees and immigrants. Bowers was explicitly anti-Trump and criticized him for not being sufficiently antisemitic. Bowers is convicted of 63 federal counts including 11 counts of first-degree murder in June 2023 and sentenced to death. The SPLC's Hatewatch documents Bowers' extensive Gab posting history targeting Jewish organizations for their immigration support work.