The shooting occurred during a Saturday morning Shabbat service at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood, a historically Jewish area. Robert Gregory Bowers, the shooter, expressed anti-Semitic beliefs on social media prior to the attack. He entered the synagogue armed with an assault rifle and multiple handguns, firing indiscriminately at congregants gathered for worship. In total, eleven individuals lost their lives, making it the deadliest attack against the Jewish community in American history. Four police officers who responded to the scene were also wounded during the shooting but later recovered.

The community, which had just celebrated the arrival of a new baby naming ceremony, was left devastated. Many victims were elderly members of the congregation, with ages ranging from 54 to 97. In the immediate aftermath, the local Jewish community and wider society came together in solidarity, holding vigils and memorial services to honor the victims. The event also sparked widespread discussions about gun control, hate speech, and anti-Semitism, raising awareness of these critical issues in American society.

The shooter was taken into custody and charged with multiple counts of murder, hate crimes, and other offenses. Following the attack, federal authorities and law enforcement agencies reviewed security procedures at synagogues and other places of worship across the country, as well as broader measures to combat hate-driven violence.