Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial: Forensic evidence expert testifies about DNA found on alleged gunman's weapons
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- On the eighth day of testimony in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial, the government continued to leave no stone unturned in establishing the defendant is responsible for the death of 11 people and the serious injury of several others, presenting expert witnesses in evidence collection and analysis.
On Wednesday, a former FBI special agent who headed crime scene reconstruction and analysis described processing the massive crime scene. The government will attempt to show the attack was premeditated and carefully planned. It's expected the prosecution will also be citing additional weaponry as evidence later in the trial the gunman had planned other attacks had he escaped the synagogue without capture.
Thursday morning, Marcy Plaza, a forensic evidence expert from the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, testified in depth about her analysis of DNA evidence taken from the defendant, his weapons and all of his 11 victims.
As if there was any doubt, Plaza testified that DNA swabbed from the defendant's AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and Glock pistols was consistent with the DNA taken from the defendant. The government also brought out in court a shotgun recovered from the defendant's car which also bore the defendant's DNA.
This follows lengthy testimony Wednesday from the crime scene coordinator who inventoried and analyzed each piece of physical evidence taken from the synagogue-- including all of the defendant's guns, ammunition and bullet fragments recovered from the victims.
Analysis teams from FBI Quantico spent nine days collecting and documenting evidence in the synagogue and the prosecution is presenting nearly all of it in this trial.
The second week of testimony in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial is expected to wrap up Thursday.
Recapping the trial
In these first two weeks of trial, the prosecution has been fulfilling its burden of proving the defendant is responsible for the deaths of 11 people and the wounding of several others. And while there is little doubt of that, the government has another aim: showing he willfully, knowingly and brutally slaughtered innocent people -- a hate crime based on their religion -- and that his actions merit the death penalty.
To that end, the government has focused on the human toll, presenting the heart-wrenching testimony of survivors of the attack who witnessed the brutal slaying of their fellow congregants and narrowly escaped death themselves. The government did not spare the jury graphic images -- crime scene and autopsy photos -- saying they were necessary to establish the "force" and "malice" of the defendant who shot the defenseless victims at close range with an AR-15 military-style rifle.
"It's necessary for the very purpose of this whole proceeding which is to move this jury to the death penalty," said Bruce Antkowiak, a law professor at St. Vincent College.
With the first of police witnesses, close to a dozen officers testified they did not hesitate and went immediately and directly into the building and towards the gunfire -- several paying a heavy price for their valor. The alleged gunman is charged specifically with causing bodily injury to safety officers. The government will later argue the death penalty is merited on all these accounts.
Next week, the government is expected to focus on the defendant's planning and the reasons behind the attack -- his immersion in conspiracy theories about Jewish people on the dark web.
Support is available for those in need during the trial
If you or someone you know is experiencing mental health effects from the trial, go to 1027healingpartnership.org to find help resources. As always, call 911 to report threats.
Phone: 412-697-3534
Email: info@1027HealingPartnership.org
Website: 1027healingpartnership.org
More resources can be found here.