BREAKING
‘Multiple Casualties’ Reported at Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting, Police Say
The police in Pittsburgh reported “multiple casualties” after responding to a report of an active shooter at a synagogue, a police commander said.
The commander, Jason Lando, told CNN that “right now we have multiple casualties, we’re working the situation.”
Erika Strassburger, the city councilwoman for the district where the synagogue, the Tree of Life Congregation, is, said that “two police officers are down.”
It was not immediately clear how many other people had been shot.
It was unclear whether or not the gunman had been found.
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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 Avenue and Wilkins Avenue, he said. Mr. Matase said he lives fewer than 1,000 feet away from the synagogue.
Mr. Matase said the neighborhood is predominantly Jewish, and while he is not part of the congregation, he has many friends who are.
Christina Caron and Mihir Zaveri contributed reporting.
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