On Aug. 2, the gunman who killed 11 people and wounded six others at a synagogue in Pittsburgh was unanimously sentenced to death by a federal jury.
In 2018, the gunman opened fire on the worshippers at the Tree of Life Congregation, committing the deadliest crime against Jewish people in the history of the United States.
Prior to the attack, the gunman had a record of antisemitism, which he documented on social media. During the trial, the prosecution relied heavily on his social media posts as evidence of his intent to kill and harm.
In June, the jury convicted the gunman guilty on all charges, including hate crime charges, despite the gunman pleading not guilty to all 63 federal criminal counts.
According to a press release from the Department of Justice, after hearing additional evidence, the jury found that the gunman was eligible to receive a death sentence.
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If the jury had not unanimously reached the decision to sentence the gunman to death, the gunman would have been sentenced to life without parole.
The sentencing marks the first-ever death penalty imposed during the Biden administration. In 2021, the administration placed a memorandum pausing federal executions.
The Justice Department’s Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke remarked that the defendant was held responsible for his actions and expressed remembrance for the victims lost in the tragedy.
“The victims of these senseless murders were community and religious leaders and loving family members and friends,” Clarke said. “A jury of his peers held the defendant accountable for his hateful actions and provided justice for those killed and injured. ”
