Pittsburgh Synagogue Massacre Site Demolition Work Begins

PITTSBURGH, PA — Demolition work has begun on most of the Tree of Life synagogue, the site of the worst antisemitic attack in the nation's history. Crews were on the scene Wednesday to begin tearing down the building where 11 Jewish congregants were shot to death in 2018.

Construction equipment was very active. Passersby stopped at the scene to observe and take photos.

Members of the Tree of Life, Dor Hadash, and New Light Jewish congregations were present in October 2018, when Robert Bowers, 50, entered the building armed with multiple firearms, including three Glock .357 handguns and a Colt AR-15 rifle.

While inside the synagogue, he killed and injured members of the three congregations. He also injured multiple responding police officers as they attempted to rescue surviving victims.

Bowers currently is on death row in a federal prison in Indiana.

A portion of the building that sits at the intersection of Shady and Wilkins avenues will be preserved while a new building is constructed. That process should take about two years.

When the new Tree of Life building is completed, it will house the synagogue, a museum and memorial. It will host a collection of national education programs, outreach initiatives and events. Those programs will be curated for local, national, and international audiences who can participate in person or virtually.