Pa. suspect indicted on 2nd day of funerals
PITTSBURGH — The suspect in the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday, and members of a grief-stricken Jewish community endured another round of funerals for victims of the worst antiSemitic attack in American history.
Robert Bowers, a 46year-old truck driver who authorities say raged against Jews as he gunned down 11 and wounded six, was charged in a 44-count indictment with murder, hate crimes and other offenses that could bring the death penalty. The indictment was announced on the second day of a weeklong series of funerals for congregants who perished in the mass shooting at Tree of Life synagogue.
“Today begins the process of seeking justice for the victims of these hateful acts, and healing for the victims’ families, the Jewish community, and our city,” U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said in a statement. “Our office will spare no resource, and will work with professionalism, integrity and diligence, in a way that honors the memories of the victims.”
One after another, services were held for three more victims of the rampage: Joyce Fienberg, 75; Melvin Wax, who was in his late 80s; and Irving Younger, 69.
“It can’t be fixed,” Robert Libman said at his sister’s funeral. “My sister is dead. My sister was murdered. There was no one I know like her. Pure goodness. She was the most tolerant and gentle person that I’ve ever known.”
Fienberg’s sons, Anthony and Howard, said she spent five years caring for their father as he battled cancer, then, after his death a few years ago, devoted more of her time and energy to Tree of Life. She was a retired researcher at the University of Pittsburgh.
“My mom would be very angry that her funeral wasn’t able to be at Tree of Life, and that her friends lost Saturday couldn’t be here,” Howard Fienberg said.
Younger had a small realty office in Squirrel Hill, the heart of Pittsburgh’s Jewish community, and coached baseball for more than 20 years. He loved to talk, and would gladly share his life story or stop strangers on the street to show them pictures of his grandson in California. One friend called him “a kibbitzing, people-loving man.”
Widowed a decade ago, Younger had a son and daughter in California, who waited Saturday to learn whether he had survived. “That waiting stage was just unbearable,” said his son, Jared. “Saturday was the most lonely day of my life.”
Jared Younger said that when his sister contacted him, he had a feeling it was about his father. Irving Younger hadn’t been in great health, undergoing bypass surgery last year. Jared Younger said his dad drank Diet Coke for 40 years, quipping he was “anti-water.”
The day’s other funeral was held for Wax, a retired accountant who was regarded as a core member of the congregation at New Light, which rented space in the lower level of Tree of Life.
Tree of Life Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, a survivor of the weekend shooting, hurried from service to service. “I can’t imagine the stress he’s under,” said his predecessor, Pallbearers carry the casket of Joyce Fienberg, 75, from the Beth Shalom Synagogue after her funeral service Wednesday in Pittsburgh. Eleven people were gunned down Saturday. Rabbi Charles “Chuck” Diamond.
As Younger’s service was wrapping up, Myers momentarily forgot to read a letter to her family that another rabbi had sent.
“After preparing for five funerals, you get a little
Myers said of his emotional state.
Bowers, who remained jailed without bail ahead of an arraignment scheduled for Thursday, also faces number of state charges filed over the weekend, including 11 counts of criminal homicide.
Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zap- pala said Tuesday that his office sought to have Bowers arraigned on the state charges but were denied by federal authorities.
Zappala said that he would prefer that local residents “sit in judgment” of Bowers in a trial, but instead would let the federal case proceed and put the state charges on hold for the time being.
Federal investigators concluded that Bowers legally acquired and possessed all of the guns recovered from Tree of Life synagogue and his home, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Authorities have not said whether Bowers — who was wounded during the gun battle with police responding to the synagogue — is cooperating with investigators or detailed what he may have told them. But according to the hospital that treated him for two days after the attack, he continued making comments there about wanting to kill Jews, even though some of the nurses and doctors who treated him were Jewish.