Police in
Pittsburgh reported “multiple casualties” after responding to a report of an active shooter at a synagogue Saturday morning, a police commander said.
Chris Togneri, a spokesman for the Pittsburgh police department, said that three officers had been shot and that the suspect was in custody.
The commander, Jason Lando, told CNN that “right now we have multiple casualties, we’re working the situation.” It was not immediately clear how many other people had been shot.
Erika Strassburger, the city councilwoman for the district that includes the synagogue, the Tree of Life Congregation, said it was not immediately clear how many other people had been shot.
Strassburger said the gunman had previously been barricaded inside the building.
President Donald Trump said on Twitter that he was monitoring the situation. He wrote: “Law enforcement on the scene. People in
Squirrel Hill area should remain sheltered. Looks like multiple fatalities. Beware of active shooter. God Bless All!”
Gov. Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania said on Twitter it was “a serious situation” and that State Police were helping local law enforcement.
Ben Opie, 55, who can see the synagogue from his backyard, said his wife was about to leave the house on Saturday morning to do some volunteer work when SWAT officers approached their home and said there was an active shooter in the synagogue.
“They chased my wife inside,” he said. “They just said get in the house.”
Justin Matase was returning home around 10:30 a.m. when he saw more than 30 police cars along Shady and Wilkins Avenues, he said. Matase said he lives fewer than 1,000 feet away from the synagogue.
Matase said the neighborhood is predominantly Jewish, and while he is not part of the congregation, he has many friends who are.