At least four people were killed and three officers injured following an active shooting incident at the Tree of life synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday.
The police officials were shot while responding to the shooting and are among the many casualties, a police officer was quoted as saying by BBC.
The shooter has now surrendered to the Pittsburgh police and has been transferred to Mercy Hospital, said Curt Conrad, the chief of staff for city Councilman Corey O’Connor, reports CNN.
“There are fatalities,” Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said.
“It is imperative that the neighbors in the community surrounding the Tree of Life synagogue stay in their houses and shelter in place,” Pittsburgh police Commander Jason Lando was quoted as saying by CNN in an impromptu news conference. “Do not come out of your home right now. It is not safe.”
The Pittsburgh Public Safety Department also put out a tweet warning the residents that there was an active shooter in the area near the synagogue.
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Fred Rabner, a member of the synagogue, who was present in the building during the incident said that it was a “close-knit community.” Everyone is just shaken up and upset,” he said. “It’s awful, it’s just awful.”
Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf called it an “absolute tragedy.” These senseless acts of violence are not who we are as Americans. My thoughts right now are focused on the victims, their families and making sure law enforcement has every resource they need,” Wolf said in a tweet.
US President also let everyone know that he was aware of the situation in Pittsburgh.
Carnegie Mellon University located near the synagogue has opened its campus to shelter those affected.