Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial: Robert Bowers trial, Day 7

May 13, 2023

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On Day 7 of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial, the jurors saw firsthand the weapons used that day in 2018 and heard from the leader of the FBI team that gathered evidence as well as from SWAT police and paramedics. Retired FBI Special Agent Andrea Dammann was the FBI Pittsburgh senior team leader for the Evidence Response Team. She and the response team of 60 people she led had control of the scene for a total of nine days.

In addition to showing jurors weapons recovered from Bowers — an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle and Glock handguns — Dammann recounted more weapons and ammo recovered from Bowers’ car, a 2016 blue Hyundai Sonata, parked outside the synagogue. In it were a loaded shotgun and numerous pieces of ammunition, including many additional rounds of ammo for the rifle Bowers used in the killings.

The prosecution showed photos of protective shooting glasses and ear coverings recovered from Bowers' car. Thirteen cartridge cases were found inside the chapel. Bullet fragments were also recovered and collected there.

Court is on break. Dammann is done testifying. She was on the stand for nearly three hours. Much of it spent with prosecution listing pieces of evidence found at the synagogue. Guns, ammo, magazines, wallet (which had IDs listing the defendant's name inside). pic.twitter.com/iNaLSjr1vO

O’Keefe saw the gunman crawl out as he surrendered and identified himself as Robert Bowers. He testified he heard Bowers say he was surrendering because Bowers ran out of ammunition inside the synagogue.

O’Keefe said he heard Bowers say that "the invaders" were coming, that "the Jews were killing our children," and he, Bowers, had to take action.

Pittsburgh paramedic Shawn Eigenbrode testified he was called to provide treatment to defendant Robert Bowers after Bowers’ surrender. He described being at the top level of the Tree of Life synagogue building with Bowers lying on the ground. The prosecution played a police video as evidence which shows Eigenbrode carrying Bowers down the steep and narrow fire escape. He was one of the four medics who carried Bowers out of the synagogue building via the fire escape.

As the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial continues in the courtroom, there's a dimension of the case continuing outside of public view and under seal :#WTAE pic.twitter.com/VtNsnTA8gv

Eigenbrode said Bowers was cooperative in his treatment. When asked if something hurt during treatment, Bowers responded with a sarcastic tone, "Not as bad as being shot."

Police called down for medics to ask Bowers about a green clock he had been carrying and its purpose. Bowers told Eigenbrode it was a trucker's alarm clock which makes a loud noise. O’Keefe testified that alarm noise could have been used for tactical advantage as a distraction tool.

After a short mid-afternoon break Wednesday, prosecutors called to the witness stand Justin LaPaglia, a Pittsburgh police officer who was one of the SWAT operators who responded to the synagogue on Oct. 27, 2018.

LaPaglia, who said he was off-duty that day, responded to the synagogue and entered without his usual protective SWAT gear. He testified that it was "eerily quiet" when he got inside, but he began to hear rifle casings sliding across the floor.

LaPaglia said he followed a path of bullet holes down to the basement, where he came across Melvin Wax's body. He testified that he found two survivors, who he directed to evacuate. He told jurors that the two survivors appeared pale.

"They looked like they were in shock," he said.

Another Pittsburgh police officer testified about putting flex cuffs on Bowers when he surrendered. David Blahut, a SWAT operator, said Bowers told him, "These people are committing genocide against my people."

The last witness of the day was Robert Shaw, a detective with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. He recounted speaking with Bowers at Allegheny General Hospital, where Bowers was taken for treatment.

Shaw said Bowers gave him basic biographical information and confirmed that there were no incendiary devices inside the synagogue or his home.

Day 8 of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial picks up Thursday morning.