The man accused in the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh last year will face additional federal hate crime and firearms charges.
Robert Bowers, 46, of Baldwin has been charged with a 63-count indictment by a federal grand jury following the original indictment filed in October 2018 that listed 44 counts.
The new indictment adds 13 violations of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act for each of the 11 people who were killed, as well as the two surviving victims. Corresponding counts were filed for discharging a firearm while committing those acts of violence due to actual or perceived religion.
Bowers faces a maximum penalty of life in prison without parole; however, 22 counts are capital-eligible offenses so the Attorney General of the United States could determine a sentence of death is justified.
Bowers continues to be held in the Butler County Prison.