Neighbor says Pittsburgh synagogue shooting suspect kept to himself

A neighbor of the man suspected of killing 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue Saturday says Robert Bowers was so nondescript that it almost made him unusual.

>> Read more trending news

The neighbor, who did not want Channel 11 to use his name, said Bowers moved into the apartment next door to him about two years ago. He said Bowers never gave any kind of indication that he was anti-Semitic or had tendencies toward hatred or violence.

When we asked him what he noticed most about Bowers, he said, "Nothing that would stand out. The most terrifying thing is how normal he seemed."

Their only interaction was a wave in passing, he said.

>>Related “What is HIAS, group alleged Pittsburgh synagogue shooter obsessed over?”

“He kept to himself. He would smoke his cigarettes in his car, go for a drive and then be back at odd hours,” the neighbor said.

The man was home Saturday morning when police came to search Bowers' apartment.
"(It was) a little jarring at first. I was about to get ready to go to work," he said. "Officers told us to evacuate, that there might be explosives."

He now says he wished there was something he could have done to possibly head off Bowers’ murderous rampage.

“I wish I knew what was going on inside his head. Maybe something could've been done. I don’t know,” he said. “I wish there was some kind of warning sign.”

About the Author