Robert Bowers: Difference between revisions
imported>KGBSpetsnaz Adding categories |
imported>FinnXMarcy No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[File:Bob_Bowers.jpg|thumb|284px]] | [[File:Bob_Bowers.jpg|thumb|284px]] | ||
{{Quote|All Jews must die!|Bowers during the shooting.}} | {{Quote|All Jews must die!|Bowers during the shooting.}} | ||
'''Robert Gregory Bowers''' ( | |||
'''Robert Gregory Bowers''' (September 4<sup>th</sup>, 1972 - ) is an American white nationalist and mass murderer who committed a mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on October 27<sup>th</sup>, 2018. Eleven people were killed and seven were injured. It was the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the United States. | |||
The full extent of the criminal charges against Bowers are still pending. As of February 2019, Bowers faces a total of 65 criminal charges combined, on both the federal and state level. The charges carry a maximum penalty of death or 535 years in federal prison. | The full extent of the criminal charges against Bowers are still pending. As of February 2019, Bowers faces a total of 65 criminal charges combined, on both the federal and state level. The charges carry a maximum penalty of death or 535 years in federal prison. | ||
| Line 10: | Line 11: | ||
Little is known of his life between the time he dropped out of high school and the period before and during the time he committed the shooting, so it can be assumed that he kept a low profile. Neighbors described Bowers as "a ghost" and said he rarely interacted with others. | Little is known of his life between the time he dropped out of high school and the period before and during the time he committed the shooting, so it can be assumed that he kept a low profile. Neighbors described Bowers as "a ghost" and said he rarely interacted with others. | ||
===Political and religious beliefs=== | ===Political and religious beliefs=== | ||
Bowers' political and religious beliefs played a large role in the massacre. He was staunchly and fanatically conservative and was a fierce white nationalist, and was also involved in the [[Christian Identity]] movement. He was a believer in [[Anti-Semitism|antisemitic]] conspiracy theories and had a profile on Gab, a social media network favored by the far-right. His posts on Gab have included many hateful things about Jews, such as "Jews are the children of [[Satan]]." He has re-shared many Neo-Nazi posts and made frequent use of the racial slur "kike", and there is even one recorded use of him saying "Heil [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]]!" Other posts attacked African Americans with racial slurs and images related to lynching, and attacked women who have relationships with black men. He also used his online accounts to post conspiracy theories regarding investor and philanthropist George Soros. | Bowers' political and religious beliefs played a large role in the massacre. He was staunchly and fanatically conservative and was a fierce white nationalist, and was also involved in the [[Christian Identity]] movement. He was a believer in [[Anti-Semitism|antisemitic]] conspiracy theories and had a profile on Gab, a social media network favored by the far-right. His posts on Gab have included many hateful things about Jews, such as "Jews are the children of [[Satan]]." He has re-shared many Neo-Nazi posts and made frequent use of the racial slur "kike", and there is even one recorded use of him saying "Heil [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]]!" Other posts attacked African Americans with racial slurs and images related to lynching, and attacked women who have relationships with black men. He also used his online accounts to post conspiracy theories regarding investor and philanthropist George Soros. | ||
In the weeks before the shooting, Bowers made antisemitic posts directed at the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) who sponsored National Refugee Shabbat of October 19–20, in which Dor Hadash and Tree of Life participated. He claimed Jews were aiding members of Central American caravans moving towards the United States border and referred to members of those caravans as "invaders". Shortly before the attack, in an apparent reference to immigrants to the United States, he posted on Gab that "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." | In the weeks before the shooting, Bowers made antisemitic posts directed at the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) who sponsored National Refugee Shabbat of October 19–20, in which Dor Hadash and Tree of Life participated. He claimed Jews were aiding members of Central American caravans moving towards the United States border and referred to members of those caravans as "invaders". Shortly before the attack, in an apparent reference to immigrants to the United States, he posted on Gab that "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." | ||
==The massacre== | ==The massacre== | ||
At 9:50 AM, shortly after Tree of Life starting their early morning Shabbat service, Bowers entered the synagogue and started shooting. He was armed with a Colt AR-15 semi-automatic rifle (cited by authorities as an "assault rifle") and three Glock .357 SIG semi-automatic pistols, all four of which he fired, according to authorities. The first two fatalities occured here. | At 9:50 AM, shortly after Tree of Life starting their early morning Shabbat service, Bowers entered the synagogue and started shooting. He was armed with a Colt AR-15 semi-automatic rifle (cited by authorities as an "assault rifle") and three Glock .357 SIG semi-automatic pistols, all four of which he fired, according to authorities. The first two fatalities occured here. | ||