LILY. WE’VE HEARD POWERFUL AND EMOTIONAL TESTIMONY OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS FROM THOSE WHO SURVIVED THE SHOOTING, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO LOST LOVED ONES. BUT NOW WE’RE ALSO GETTING A FIRSTHAND LOOK INSIDE OF THE SYNAGOGUE ON THAT OCTOBER DAY. THESE IMAGES INTRODUCED IN COURT DURING THE FIRST DAY OF THE TRIAL SHOW, THE FIRST PICTURES INSIDE OF THE MAIN SANCTUARY OF THE TREE OF LIFE SYNAGOGUE. THIS IS THE ROOM WHERE THE TREE OF LIFE CONGREGATION WAS WORSHIPING ON OCTOBER 27TH. AMONG EVIDENCE ENTERED INTO THE RECORD YESTERDAY, THIS BLUE PRAYER BOOK WITH A BULLET HOLE THROUGH IT. RABBI JEFFREY MYERS OF TREE OF LIFE CONGREGATION TESTIFIED THAT IN JEWISH FAITH, A DAMAGED PRAYER BOOK SHOULD BE BURIED. ACCORDING TO RABBI MYERS, HE KEPT THE BOOK BECAUSE IT, QUOTE, BORE WITNESS TO THE HORROR OF THAT DAY. THESE IMAGES SHOWING SOME OF THAT HORROR, THE SECOND FLOOR BATHROOM WHERE RABBI MYERS HID FROM THE SHOOTER. HE TESTIFIED HE HELD ONTO THE KNOB OF THE DOOR THE ENTIRE TIME BECAUSE THE LOCK WASN’T WORKING. NOW, IN ADDITION TO PHOTOS, THE JURY ALSO HEARD AUDIO FROM 911 CALLS AND BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE FROM THAT DAY. THE JUDGE HAS GRANTED A PROSECUTION REQUEST TO PLACE LIMITS ON THE PUBLIC RELEASE OF BOTH VISUAL AND AUDIO EVIDENCE THAT THE JURY WILL HEAR AT TRIAL. THIS IN THE HOPES OF PROTECTING THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS. AND TODAY BROUGHT MORE TESTIMONY AND MORE EVIDENCE INTRODUCED IN THIS CASE. THAT EVIDENCE INTRODUCED TODAY WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC TOMORROW. REPORTING FROM OUTSIDE OF THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE IN
Evidence gives first glimpse inside of synagogue
A prayer book with bullet holes and a second-floor bathroom are among the photos introduced as evidence
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Updated: 5:16 PM EDT May 31, 2023
A prayer book with bullet holes and a second-floor bathroom are among the photos introduced as evidence in the first days of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial.On Tuesday, the courtroom heard testimony from Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, the rabbi for the Tree of Life congregation. He testified, telling the prosecution he felt like he was going to die that day. During his testimony, photographs of a prayer book with a bullet hole through the top half. Rabbi Myers testified that in the Jewish faith, it's custom to bury damaged prayer books as a sign of respect. However, Myers said he decided to keep the book because it bore "witness to the horror of that day." Another photograph introduced depicts some of that horror. Also during Rabbi Myer's testimony, a photograph of a small second-floor bathroom was introduced. The bathroom is where, according to Myer's testimony, the rabbi hid from the gunman while holding the door shut because the lock on the door was broken. Other evidence introduced shows photos from inside of the synagogue, many scattered with caution tape and evidence markers. The photos from outside of the synagogue show first responders and SWAT members responding to the scene. In addition to photos, the jury also heard audio from 911 calls and watched body camera footage from that day. The judge has granted a prosecution request to place limits on the public release of visual and audio evidence the jury hears at trial to protect the families of the victims. Wednesday brought more testimony and more images from inside the synagogue. The evidence introduced Wednesday will be made available to the public tomorrow.
PITTSBURGH — A prayer book with bullet holes and a second-floor bathroom are among the photos introduced as evidence in the first days of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial.
On Tuesday, the courtroom heard testimony from Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, the rabbi for the Tree of Life congregation. He testified, telling the prosecution he felt like he was going to die that day.
During his testimony, photographs of a prayer book with a bullet hole through the top half. Rabbi Myers testified that in the Jewish faith, it's custom to bury damaged prayer books as a sign of respect. However, Myers said he decided to keep the book because it bore "witness to the horror of that day."
Another photograph introduced depicts some of that horror. Also during Rabbi Myer's testimony, a photograph of a small second-floor bathroom was introduced. The bathroom is where, according to Myer's testimony, the rabbi hid from the gunman while holding the door shut because the lock on the door was broken.
Other evidence introduced shows photos from inside of the synagogue, many scattered with caution tape and evidence markers. The photos from outside of the synagogue show first responders and SWAT members responding to the scene.
In addition to photos, the jury also heard audio from 911 calls and watched body camera footage from that day. The judge has granted a prosecution request to place limits on the public release of visual and audio evidence the jury hears at trial to protect the families of the victims.
Wednesday brought more testimony and more images from inside the synagogue. The evidence introduced Wednesday will be made available to the public tomorrow.
