Update – Pittsburgh Director of Public Safty, Wendell Hissrich, visibly shaken at a 1:15 press conference, said there were multiple fatalities inside the building.
Hissrich said 6 people were also wounded, including 4 officers. The officers are all suffering from non-life-threatening injuries. Two others are in critical condition.
Hissrich declined to provide an exact number of dead. He said “Scene Worst I’ve Ever Been To, Including Some Plane Crashes”.
Hissrich said that a service was underway when the gunfire began.
Developing
Breaking Report
Pittsburgh – Officers responding to an active shooter incident in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood came under fire this morning.
At least three police officers were shot as they approached the Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue located in the 5900 block of Wilkins Avenue.
The shooter was reportedly shooting at officers from several third story windows.
Initial radio reports from the scene indicate that there may be multiple victims inside the building.
One of the responding officers reported that he shot at the suspect three times and may have struck him.
We are updating the section below as we hear the audio.
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Upon entry into the building, SWAT officers have reported that a spent ammunition clip was on the ground.
A witness inside the building reported that the shooter is a heavyset unshaven white male with a coat.
SWAT crews moving through the building reports four dead in the atrium, one wounded.
As they moved further into the building they reported four more people have been killed. A total of eight dead and one wounded found.
The team evacuated the wounded patient and continued to search, reporting three patients in the basement, two others found uninjured.
Teams continued to search the basement as they prepared to move into the second and third floors.
As crews made their way to the third floor they began reporting shots fired. Within seconds crews reported that one officer had been shot in the wrist.
They then reported that the suspect was barricaded inside a third-floor room.
Teams reporting shots fired again.
As teams prepared to breach the room the suspect and team members began shouting at each other. Officers can be heard yelling for the suspect to crawl out of the room.
The suspect has identified himself by name and has yelled his birth date to the officers.
The suspect’s clothing does not meet the description given by witnesses.
Suspect in custody.
EOD teams searching military style package.
Officer evacuated to awaiting medics.
The suspect moved to fire escape to evac.
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The shooter has since been taken into custody.
SWAT teams and K-9 units are clearing the building.
The shooter’s vehicle, a green Hyundai Sonata is being inspected using an EOD (Bomb Squad) Robot.
Developing.