WEB DESK
US President Donald Trump on Saturday said that the outcome of the deadly shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue would have been different had an armed guard been in place.
“If there was an armed guard inside the temple, they would have been able to stop him,” he told media person after the incident
There are multiple fatalities in the shooting, and at least six people are injured, including four police officers, Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said.
Trump also said the nation should strengthen its laws surrounding the death penalty.
“When people do this, they should get the death penalty,” he said. “Anybody that does a thing like this to innocent people that are in temple or in church … they should be suffering the ultimate price, they should pay the ultimate price.”
When asked if the shooting indicated a need to revisit gun laws, Trump replied that the shooting “has little to do with it” and that an armed guard might have been able to stop the gunman “immediately.”
Asked if he was advocating for armed guards inside if places of worship, Trump replied, “no, it’s certainly an option.”
Meanwhile the law enforcement officials identified the suspect as Robert D. Bowers, 46. The officials requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation, reports NYT.
Social media activity linked to Mr. Bowers suggested a history of virulent anti-Semitism, filled with slurs and references to anti-Jewish conspiracy theories.
Erika Strassburger, the city councilwoman for the district that includes the synagogue, the Tree of Life Congregation, said Mr. Bowers surrendered to the police after being barricaded in the building and was taken to the hospital.