Pgh. shooting suspect moved to Butler prison
The Pittsburgh man accused of killing 11 people and wounding six others, including four police officers, in a shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue Saturday is now an inmate in Butler County.
Robert G. Bowers, 46, of Baldwin is being held in Butler County Prison indefinitely, Warden Joe DeMore confirmed Tuesday afternoon.
Demore said that the county jail received Bowers around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday from U.S. Marshals. No extra security has been provided, DeMore said, and Bowers is “being treated as any other inmate.”
“He’s here and he’ll be taken care of like any other inmate,” DeMore said.
It was not immediately clear why Bowers, who faces 29 murder and federal hate crime charges, was transferred to Butler County. He had been held in Allegheny County Jail without bail, though he was officially in federal custody. In addition to the federal charges, Bowers faces 36 counts under state law. He has not yet been arraigned on those charges.
Federal officials declined to comment on the transfer Tuesday, and refused even to acknowledge Bowers’ presence in the jail.
“As a long-standing policy, we don’t comment on the housing status of federal detainees due to security concerns,” said Margaret Philbin, a spokeswoman for the office of U.S. Attorney Scott Brady.
The transfer occurred on the same day as three funerals were being held in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill and Shadyside neighborhoods for victims killed during the shooting. The funerals — for Jerry Rabinowitz, 66, of Edgewood and brothers Cecil and David Rosenthal, who were 59 and 54 respectively — are the first for the 11 people Bowers allegedly shot and killed in what federal investigators have called an attack motivated by racism and conspiracy theories revolving around immigration.
President Donald Trump was also in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, reportedly arriving with the first family shortly before 4 p.m. at an air base in Coraopolis. Trump said he planned to meet with some of the six people who were grievously injured in the shooting on Saturday.
Butler County Sheriff Michael Slupe said Bowers is being treated like any other federal prisoner and that sheriff’s deputies are prepared to take on any related responsibility.
“As far as transporting (Bowers), we’re ready to do our part if and when requested,” Slupe said.
Bowers is expected back in federal court in Pittsburgh on Thursday. Slupe said the sheriff’s office had not been made aware of what the transportation arrangements will be for that appearance.
“The Marshal Service has leaned on us quite a few times to help in other situations,” Slupe said when asked why Bowers was being held in Butler’s jail.
