Jury finds Pittsburgh synagogue shooter guilty of all 63 counts

Next phase: Death penalty or life in prison

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- A truck driver who expressed hated of Jews was convicted Friday of barging into a Pittsburgh synagogue and shooting everyone he could find, killing 11 congregants in an act of antisemitic terror for which he could be sentenced to die.

The guilty verdict was a foregone conclusion after Robert Bowers' own lawyers conceded at the trial's outset that he attacked and killed worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue on Oct. 27, 2018, in the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history.

Jurors must now decide whether the 50-year-old should be sent to death row or sentenced to life in prison without parole as the federal trial shifts to a penalty phase expected to last several weeks.

Bowers was convicted of all 63 criminal counts he faced, including hate crimes resulting in death and obstruction of the free exercise of religion resulting in death. His attorneys had offered a guilty plea in return for a life sentence, but prosecutors refused, opting instead to take the case to trial and pursue the death penalty.

Most of the victims' families expressed support for the decision.

The verdict in Bowers’ trial was announced after a jury deliberated five hours over two days.

Bowers had pleaded not guilty to 63 federal criminal counts, including hate crimes.

Seven others were injured when Bowers stormed the Tree of Life synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood.

The prosecution rested its case Wednesday, and attorneys for Bowers did not put on a defense.