Eight people have been confirmed dead after a shooting in Pittsburgh at the Tree of Life Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood on Oct. 27, reported KDKA.
Police officers swarmed to the scene and told area residents to stay inside their homes as they tracked down the suspected shooter. Nearby Carnegie Mellon University was also on lockdown.
Two police officers were shot by the shooter during the response, reported KDKA.
The broadcaster said he eventually surrendered to police and was injured.
SWAT prepping rifles as Pittsburgh active shooter situation continues at Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill pic.twitter.com/eimPxyRACP
— Beau Berman (@BeauWTAE) October 27, 2018
BREAKING: HEAVY POLICE ACTIVITY AT TREE OF LIFE SYNAGOGUE IN SQUIRREL HILL pic.twitter.com/nHIPehF3ar
— Chris Lovingood WTAE (@CLovingoodWTAE) October 27, 2018
Wilkins Avenue is blocked off and so is Murray. Police cars and ambulances everywhere. pic.twitter.com/k0zYJmX8bj
— Beau Berman (@BeauWTAE) October 27, 2018
This is the scene on Murray Avenue in Squirrelhill police SWAT rescue personnel on scene looking for an active shooter #wpxi pic.twitter.com/FF2ItmvLYH
— Stephen Banfield (@coachtvnews) October 27, 2018
Tree of Life is the synagogue I attend. My family is safe but others who were injured are not. Please keep everyone in your thoughts.
— Zachary Weiss (@ZacharyMWeiss) October 27, 2018
Watching the events unfolding in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Law enforcement on the scene. People in Squirrel Hill area should remain sheltered. Looks like multiple fatalities. Beware of active shooter. God Bless All!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 27, 2018
Pictures and video footage from the area showed SWAT personnel and police officers responding.
The synagogue is located at 5898 Wilkins Avenue in the Squirrel Neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s second-largest city.
“It sounded like a loud crash in the hallway,” Stephen Weiss of Squirrel Hill, who was in Tree of Life services Saturday morning, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Weiss ran away from the gunshots and eventually made it out alive.
Tree of Life
A full Saturday service at the Tree of Life Synagogue was interrupted by the shooting.
According to the synagogue’s website, it was founded more than 150 years ago.
“In 2010, the two Pittsburgh congregations merged to form Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha. As a conservative Jewish congregation, Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha remains true to traditional teachings, yet is also progressive and relevant to the way we live today,” it stated.
“From our warm, inviting and intellectually stimulating atmosphere to our fun adult, children and family programs, it’s the perfect environment to grow a strong faith rooted in tradition.”
Wilkins Avenue and nearby Murray were blocked off and a number of police officers and ambulances had responded, reported WTAE.