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Mass Murder At A Synagogue In Pennsylvania; Eleven Victims have been Identified; Aired 6-7p ET

Aired October 28, 2018 - 18:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:01:12] WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Hello. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. We want to welcome our viewers here in the United States and around the world. Thanks very much for joining us.

Right now, the people of Pittsburgh, regardless of religion, they are rallying around the city's Jewish community, a day after what's being called the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history.

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BLITZER: They are mourning the deaths of 11 wonderful people, gunned down on Saturday morning, apparently just because of their Jewish faith. It happened during services at a synagogue. Six other people were hurt. Some of them critically.

These are the names, the eight men and three women who died this weekend, when a gunman stormed the synagogue in Pittsburgh's historic Jewish neighborhood of Squirrel Hill.

CNN's Sara Sidner is at a place where the vigil is being held right now.

Sara, you are outside. Tell us more about this true outpouring of support and unity.

SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hundreds of people have been streaming in to listen and to bring their prayers and to show up. You know, in talking to the people of Squirrel Hill and talking to some of those who are friends with the victims, they all have this sense that this wasn't supposed to happen here. It's never supposed to happen. And to them, it simply has been a shocking heartbreak for literally everyone in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 75-year-old Joyce Feinberg of Oakland.

SIDNER: The names of the victims read out so the world will know who they are.

SUZAN HAUPHMAN, KNEW THE VICTIM: I have no words. I'm shaking inside. I'm shocked. SIDNER: Susan Hauphman knew three of the dead. Her family doctor and

two brothers.

HAUPHMAN: The victims need to be talked about a lot. They can't talk for themselves anymore.

SIDNER: Each of them had come to pray and celebrate together on the Sabbath, when hatred entered their synagogue.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tall white male, short hair, light blue shirt, jeans.

SIDNER: The police dispatching the suspect's description as they geared up for a gun battle.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have at least four down in the atrium, DOA at this time. We immediate the armor.

SIDNER: The suspect had walked into a place set aside for peace with guns and a mission to kill Jewish people and succeeded.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the most horrific crime scene I have seen in 22 years with the federal bureau of investigation.

SIDNER: The suspect later telling police he wanted to kill all Jews, according to court documents. In the end, it would be the deadliest attack against Jews in America, according to the Anti-Defamation League. More dead than you can count on two hands and six wounded, including four police officers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, you have a situation here where you have disturbed minds with hate in their heart and guns in their hands.

SIDNER: The deadly shooting sending a wave of sorrow across Pittsburgh and the world, drawing thousands together to mourn.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are like a hand.

CROWD: We are like a hand.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: With various fingers connected.

CROWD: With various fingers connected.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So when one finger hurts --

CROWD: So when one finger hurts --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We all hurt.

CROWD: We all hurt.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SIDNER: And we have been talking to friends, as I mentioned, who are just remembering those who they thought would be here today. The friend of Jerry Rabinowitz, who was a doctor, who said, we can't

imagine him not being a part of our family. He wasn't just one person's doctor, he was our family's doctor. He was literally the heartbeat of our family.

And then there was David and Cecil Rosenthal, two gentlemen who would stand at the front door of the synagogue, and every time you would come in, they would greet you with a hello. They would greet you and make you feel welcome.

And we also talked with a friend of Rose Mallinger, who is 97 years old. She lost her life in a place that has always given her comfort and where she has comforted others.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[18:05:37] ROBIN BLOOM FRIEDMAN, TREE OF LIFE MEMBER: I heard the age this morning and the tears came. And to go through all of that, I mean, the only comfort I could maybe say is that this was a comfort place to her, but that's not what this should have ever happened like this. And she and her daughter went that morning, maybe expecting to go home and have lunch afterwards together. And it's not something we'll ever be able to wrap our heads around.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: A husband and wife, the Simons, they died together. We are now hearing from Dan Simon's son, who was on Facebook, saying that this was the worst day of my life yesterday, when this shooting happened. He talked about his father being funny, having dry humor. And that he will be so incredibly missed. That it will change the family's life and trajectory - Wolf.

BLITZER: Yes. Our hearts go out to those families. So sad.

Sara Sidner, thank you very much.

Shortly after the massacre, the Anti-Defamation League, the ADL, released a statement in response to the horror.

And it says, it is simply unconscionable for Jews to be targeted during worship on a Sabbath morning, and unthinkable that it would happen in the United States of America in this day and age. Unfortunately, this violence occurs at a time when the ADL has reported a historic increase in both anti-Semitic incidents and anti- Semitic online harassment.

The ADL league CEO, Jonathan Greenblatt, is joining us right now.

Jonathan, thanks so much for joining us. How devastating is this attack for you, for the entire Jewish community? How are people in the Jewish community dealing with this?

JONATHAN GREENBLATT, CEO, ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE: Well, I will be honest, Wolf, I think the events of yesterday in Pittsburgh are nothing less than soul-breaking. I mean, all of our hearts are torn apart. The idea of elderly parishioners being slaughtered in the pews and in the halls of a synagogue on Shabbat morning. It is hard to think of something more sacrilegious. And you imagine that in that synagogue, on that day, there were families who were worshiping, others who were celebrating a bris (ph), right? The baby-naming ceremony for their child.

My mean, I, myself learned about this when I was walking out of my synagogue. And it's just absolutely wrenching. And our hearts, our prayers, our thoughts are with the community in Pittsburgh, because we are all Pittsburgh tonight.

BLITZER: I know that the ADL has been monitoring anti-Semitic incidents in the United States for about, for decades, for at least 40 years.

GREENBLATT: Yes.

BLITZER: And I take it there was a 57 percent increase in anti- Semitic incidents in 2017. That's the largest single-year increase on record. What do you think accounts for this spike?

GREENBLATT: Well, I think there are multiple factors at play. I mean, as you said, we have been tracking hate for decades and decades. And we look at, through our network of 25 offices around the country, acts of harassment, vandalism, and violence. And last year's 57 percent surge, the single-largest spike we have ever seen in tracking this information, that itself follows a 34 percent increase the prior year.

And just to give you an idea, I'm talking about nearly double the amount of incidents of bullying and harassment at k-12 schools. Almost, Wolf, a 90 percent increase of anti-Semitic acts at colleges and universities.

I think part of it is the political climate. Let's be honest. We are so polarized right now, things are so tense, people look for and launch into scapegoats. And they resort to stereo types. So I think the climate is part of it. I think social media is contributing to it. You know, the violence and venom can spread now online and be amplified and accelerate in ways we've never seen before.

But ultimately, Wolf, I think what is part of the reason we are in this predicament today, a predicament with no precedent in the history of our country, is we need our leaders to lead and apply a no- tolerance policy to anti-Semitism. And I can't emphasize this enough.

I am enraged when I think about a situation in which, whether it's the President of the United States, or the President of at university, or the President of a PTA, leaders need to lead, and authorities need to stop anti-Semitism when it happens, period, end of story.

[18:10:23] BLITZER: Are you suggesting that President Trump is not leading?

GREENBLATT: I am suggesting that people in all positions of authority, whether it's a political candidate who invokes conspiracy theories about Jewish financiers, who are somehow manipulating events or elected representatives who bring holocaust deniers into the well of the House of Representatives, or elected officials themselves who downplay or pooh-pooh when we call these things out or religious leaders, who describe Jews as termites, prompting laughter from an audience. None of it is acceptable. And this weekend's events only drive home the fact that words have consequences.

BLITZER: You are talking about the reverend Louis Farrakhan, who said that Jews were termites.

GREENBLATT: Look, 11 Jews were murdered yesterday in a shoul. That should have all of us enraged, but whether it's the left or the right, whether its figures of authority, from any walk of life, none of it is acceptable.

BLITZER: I know that the ADL has done some research, and you are now saying that this mass murder in Pittsburgh was the deadliest anti- Semitic attack in U.S. history, is that right?

GREENBLATT: Unfortunately, it is true. I mean, we have security in almost every Jewish institution in the United States. Even in the Tree of Life shoul in Pittsburgh, where they didn't have an armed guard. They indeed had done active shooter drills just a few months earlier and they saved lives.

But the reason why Jewish day schools, Jewish community centers, Jewish houses of worship, and even offices like those of the ADL, we have protection because we need it. Because we have been victimized, we have been terrorized, and it's time to say, no more. Never again.

BLITZER: I know the ADL every year has a concert against hate at the Kennedy center here in Washington. It's coming up in a few days. This year, obviously, it's going to take on such a more powerful significance. Talk a little bit about what will happen.

GREENBLATT: So the concert against hate is in its 24th year. And it takes place on November the 8th at the Kennedy center. And it's a moment where the entire D.C. community comes together to celebrate heroes, law enforcement officers, brave civilians, ordinary bystanders who have intervened to stop acts of hate and to help those who have been harmed by prejudice, anti-Semitism, racism, homophobia, all forms of intolerance. Because you see, we are all in this together.

So the Kennedy center event typically is a moment to rejoice, to celebrate those who have demonstrated heroism. I'm afraid this year, we will have it with heavy hearts. But what's important is that we do not give up. We do not surrender. And we demonstrate to the bigots and the haters, who may be celebrating right now, on gab and these other social media platforms, that not only are we not daunted, we will press forward, we will drive ahead, because America is no place for hate.

BLITZER: Yes, I have been going to that concert against hate at the Kennedy center for years. It is a very, very powerful, moving moment. And I'm sure this year will even be more so.

Jonathan Greenblatt of the ADL, thanks so much for joining us. Thanks for the very important work that you and the ADL do.

GREENBLATT: Thank you.

BLITZER: All right. So we are learning more about the weapons used in this horrific mass murder at the Pittsburgh synagogue, legally purchased handguns. Legally purchased handguns. We will have the very latest when we come back.

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[18:18:07] BLITZER: We have brand-new information about the guns used in yesterday's mass shooting in the synagogue in Pittsburgh. A source tells CNN that at least three of the four guns were purchased legal. In all, the suspected gunman appears to have bought at least six guns over the last 22 years.

Meanwhile, the FBI agents are searching for surveillance video nears the murder scene. They are hoping they can piece together what the suspect did in the moments before the attack. They have already searched his home and his car.

CNN's Miguel Marquez is in Pittsburgh outside the Tree of Life synagogue for us.

Miguel, I understand you' have spoken with someone who knew this suspect. What did they tell you?

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we have spoken to several people now that knew Mr. Bowers, for many, many years. And it -- Wolf, it only gets more disturbing.

This is a guy who, on the outside, seemed completely normal. People who knew him for many, many years say that he never uttered an unkind word, never uttered a nasty word about Jews or any sort of racial comments, whatsoever. But one person who knew him for many years says that this was also a person who was a lost soul. There were some traumatic events in his life and that this was somebody that she was absolutely shocked that could have done this. Her only reaction when she heard was to say, no, no, no over and over again.

Neighbors who knew Mr. Bowers as well say the same, that this was somebody who, from everything that they saw from him, that there was never any sort of hostility. He would say "hello," he would say "good-bye." He was almost invisible in life. He seemed to have no issues with anyone, kind of floated through life.

The woman who knew him for many, many years says he reminded her of a lost soul. This is not somebody who could hold down a job and never quite could figure out life.

That said, what was going on behind who this person was, was deeply troubling and deeply concerning. For many months, if not years, he was posting online and expressing a deep hatred of Jews, in particular, the last 20 days.

Seventeen days before this incident, he posted a video about the caravan coming up from Mexico, posting about one particular Jewish organization called HIAS, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, that has resettled immigrants of all races, all countries, all places for many, many years. Saying that they were bringing invaders into our country. That he was very concerned about them. HIAS had been on the border, made a video, he reposted that, he was very concerned about it.

When he went into that synagogue, he said he couldn't take it anymore. That the caravan was bringing in people who were slaughtering our own people. He didn't care about the optics and went in. This does not fit with anything that people knew about him for their entire lives and it comes as a great shock that this would be the person to do this.

So investigators now looking into everything and what could have set this individual off in this way and down this path that people who knew him for many, many years just never saw it. And that may be what is most terrifying about this story, the more that we dig into his life, there is no sense that anyone ever saw this coming - Wolf.

[18:21:32] BLITZER: Yes, they should have read his social media posts. They would have had a clue about what this guy was all about.

Miguel Marquez, thank you very much.

Let's get some insight into the investigation from someone who understands how they work. Joining us now, CNN law enforcement analyst, Art Roderick.

Art, you are a former assistant director of the U.S. Marshall's office. What did you think of that profile we just heard of this suspect?

ART RODERICK, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: You know, the thing that struck me is several of the phrases that Miguel used is exactly what we heard about the mail bomber from just a couple of days ago. So it struck me that the description of both individuals, sort of a loner, disenfranchised, had some traumatic events in their life, we heard all of that same description of the mail bomber. So there's a lot of things that are similar in this particular case. It's, obviously, a horrible scenario here, but, you know, I would be interested to find out through this investigation what the triggering event was that caused him to pick a weapon up that day and go out and hit the --

BLITZER: The timing --

RODERICK: The timing.

BLITZER: Because that mail bomber also had racist, white supremacist, anti-Semitic views that he had posted, that he had spoken about.

RODERICK: Exactly. And, you know, when you look at white supremacy and the horrible discourse they use, the horrible words and language they use, very similar to what this individual is. Anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, both of them come together like that. And it's - it is horrible words. He has posted them online. I find it interesting that they are only going back 17 days, as of right now have. I'm sure the FBI will be peeling back that particular digital footprint to see how far back this vitriol goes online.

BLITZER: We have discussed this, but you have a theory that maybe what happened with the bomber, the IED suspect, that he was arrested and captured, could have resulted in a copycat or a triggering with this guy in Pittsburgh.

RODERICK: It could be. We might never know what exactly the triggering event was in this particular case, but it just -- we in law enforcement don't believe in coincidences. It just -- this just happened right on the absolute heels of the bomber being captured and then all of this information about his involvement with white supremacy and some of this stuff, he posted online, even the stickers on his van. It just seemed to be right on the heels of it. And I wouldn't be surprised if it was a trigger.

BLITZER: Which, if it's true. We don't know if it is, obviously. But if there is a link, then we have got to be worried that there are other copy cats out there who are watching and thinking and planning horrible things.

RODERICK: We always have to be worried about copycat, because generally, when you look at any of these incidents, there is somewhat of a triggering event that occurs and copycats are always a scary, a scary incident that could occur. And law enforcement's always looking out for it. That's why you see, whenever we have these incidences, they are always sending, specifically with the synagogue, they're always sending law enforcement out for extra security at places -- other synagogues across the country.

BLITZER: I wonder what point law enforcement starts looking at people e's social media and see what they're saying, if they're making death threats, where that potentially leads. That's a whole different area.

RODERICK: Exactly.

BLITZER: Thanks very much for coming in.

RODERICK: Thanks, Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. I want to bring you a moment from the interfaith vigil underway in Pittsburgh right now. Watch this.

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[18:29:56] BLITZER: The worst, the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history happening this week. A gunman walks into a Pittsburgh synagogue, opening fire during Shabbat services. Eleven people gunned down and that's not the only hate-filled attack this week.

Days ago, 14 suspicious packages were intercepted. Those packages were targeting two former Presidents of the United States, one former vice President, four members of congress, an Oscar-winning actor, a billionaire, and CNN's offices in New York City. The President's handling of all of this this week now under the microscope.

Here's what congressman Adam Schiff of California had to say earlier today on CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[18:30:39] REP. ADAM SCHIFF (R-CA), RANKING MEMBER, HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: This country is filled with amazing, beautiful, wonderful people who came here, many of them, attracted by the idea this was a land of opportunity, no matter your religion, your ethnic origin, your color.

That idea is being tested by those who are preaching hatred and division. And we have to overcome that. And I think the President has a pivotal role there. No one sets the tone more than the President of the United States. And the tone that he sets is one of division. Often one of hatred. And there is no escaping our collective responsibility, but there's no escaping the tone that he sets for the country. The constitution contemplates a President that tries to make us a more perfect union. And the President has his own constitution here that doesn't allow him to do that.

And that's not going to change. I think it's going to fall on all the rest of us to try to make this a more perfect union, to bring people together, to accentuate our common humanity and not these ancient hatreds, not giving birth to new hatreds. That's going to fall on all of us. And I think we are up to the challenge.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Once again, this week's hate-filled attacks included those pipe bomb mailings, race-targeted murders, and the worst anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history. The nation is shaken and reeling from the brutal onslaught of hatred, clearly on display. So where do we go from here?

I want to bring in our CNN political reporter, Rebecca Berg, and CNN contributor, Norm Eisen. He served as White House ethics czar during the Obama administration. He is also the author of the new book, "the Last Palace."

Norm, what are your reflections after a week like this. This hits home, personally, to you.

NORM EISEN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: It does, Wolf. All of the attacks on CNN colleagues, the pipe bombs, many of my friends, former bosses and colleagues on that list. The devastating attack in the synagogue, which we all experience in the Jewish community. I was? Synagogue at the same time. We heard of the danger. We all experienced, as the loss of our brothers and sisters. And the Kroger's attack is no different. An attack on -- a murderous attack on people of color.

The biggest reflection for me is that the tone that has become pervasive in our country. And it's asymmetrical. Both sides have said things they shouldn't, but it's so imbalanced towards what the President and his enablers have done. That tone of hate, when targeting anybody who different, Wolf, any minority, anybody who doesn't look like President Trump, when he targets them, it has a spillover effect on everyone. In my book, I write about a hundred years of these assaults on democracy. And his words of hatred and of violence, his incitement of violence. Wherever that happens, Jews are also targets.

BLITZER: You have been doing some reporting on this, Rebecca. What do you think has led to this current climate out there, where there are these haters?

REBECCA BERG, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, there seems to be an agreement, Wolf, that it's really a convergence of a number of factors, that's happening right now not only in America, but also we are seeing something similar in Europe. First, just this erosion of community. People pulling back from their communities, living lives increasingly of solitude, of loneliness, and then turning to the internet, where conspiracy theories and hatred can thrive and grow and spread very easily.

And then, of course, you have a political environment, where politicians on both sides, as Norm said, but there is some imbalance, at times, are trafficking in division, in resentment, in hatred, in anger. And really providing an environment where those things can grow and thrive and not necessarily pushing back against hatred and divisiveness. And this sense of sort of taking away from people's humanity, in their rhetoric.

BLITZER: So sad.

Norm, you posted this earlier today. I'll read it, because these are strong words. The Jews survived the Babylonian invasion. We survived the roman wars. We survive the crusades, pogroms, the holocaust. My mom was one who made it through. We will endure the hate that Trump and his enablers have stirred up, but we reject their phony words as we mourn our dead.

Phony words. Talk about that.

[18:35:37] EISEN: Well, congressman Schiff said it, Wolf. We know now that Donald Trump is not going to change. He pivoted from those tweets of condolence to a typical Trump political rally with the usual animus. So at some point, you have to say that it's not authentic, it's not honest. And it becomes a desecration of those holy dead, the black people who died at Kroger's, the people who died in the synagogue to allow him to put on this charade.

It is an imbalance. The President bears a disproportionate responsibility and those who enable him, who do not denounce him. And so we have to look to other sources in our community. But I do not want those fakers there when we are mourning and crying. They are not welcome.

BLITZER: You know, the President is getting some criticism for the way he dealt with the pipe bomb, the pipe bomb suspect. He's getting some criticism for this Pittsburgh attack, as well.

BERG: Absolutely. Well, of course, in this case, with Pittsburgh, Wolf, the President came out very quickly expressed his condolences to the victims. BLITZER: Very strong words on that.

BERG: Rejected, rejected this sort of hatred. And he didn't do that in the past. You look at how he handled Charlottesville. There's a stark contrast there. So he is learning and developing and evolving in that sense.

But on the pipe bomb, he on twitter today, goes after Tom Steyer, who was targeted. He has gone after some of the people who are targeted. And then, also, hasn't reached out to them, to express his condolences, to express any sort of rejection of this, personally. And so, he has fallen short in many respects. I think you could say. And again, this is something we have seen from the President over and over, that he doesn't accept the role of a moral leader in these instances. And at the same time, he continues to double down on the politics of division. Said at a rally just in the past few days that he doesn't feel like he needs to tone down his rhetoric. Then maybe he will turn it up.

BLITZER: As you know, the President has a daughter and a son-in-law who are Jewish, his grandchildren, their children, are Jewish. And this guy in Pittsburgh, he was no fan of the President. He said Trump is surrounded by used the k-word, a derogatory word for Jews things. He said Trump is a globalist, not a nationalist. He said, there will never be make America great again as long as there is a, derogatory word for Jews, infestation. So this guy was no fan of the President. And this does hit home. He's got a daughter and a son-in-law and grandchildren who are Jewish.

EISEN: Wolf, I have worshiped with them. That's what makes this so tragic. We know that politicians sometimes speak out of both sides of their mouth. But here you have the President who has demagogue this caravan issue, who has lied about it, who has distorted it. He has had all of his enablers doing the same thing around him for electoral advantage.

We know that this gentlemen, whatever his words about Trump, it appears, was triggered by this propaganda about the caravan. That's the danger. President Trump cannot pour gasoline, throw a match into the fire, and then say he's not to blame. And that's why I think his education expressions of regret are not sincere.

BLITZER: Do you think these horrific incidents, Rebecca, are going to have an impact here in Washington? That people are going to calm down and they are going to stop all of this hatred, this hate-filled language that we have been hearing. And we are only a few days away, as you know, from the midterm elections.

BERG: You know, unfortunately, Wolf, I'm not sure that it will. If you take a look recent history, it has not. When Republican members of Congress were shot on a baseball field last year, we took a few days and said, you know, maybe things will change. Maybe our politics will take on a more civil tone. And then it went back very quickly to business as usual. And that's likely to be the case here as well.

I spoke with a Republican just before I went on the air, asking, are you changing any of your election messaging in light of this? And they said no, business as usual.

BLITZER: All right. Well, within hope they get their act together and improve it. But I'm an optimist, by nature. Let's see if they do.

Guys, thank you very much for coming in. An important subject.

There's news just coming into CNN right now. A group of progressive Pittsburgh Jewish leaders says President Trump isn't welcome in Pittsburgh until he denounces white nationalism. A source involved with this group passes along the sharply-worded letter to President Trump. And I'll quote from that letter. "For the past three years, your words and your policies have emboldened a growing white nationalist movement." The letter goes on to say, you, yourself, called the murderer evil, but yesterday's violence is the direct culmination of your influence. President Trump, you are not welcome in Pittsburgh until you fully denounce white nationalism.

Stay with us. Much more right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:44:49] BLITZER: The Pittsburgh religious community is coming together after the deadly synagogue shooting.

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[18:45:03] BLITZER: Touching moment of unity this afternoon as members of a Catholic Church right down the street from the Tree of Life synagogue walked over, put flowers in front of the synagogue and prayed for the victims. A show of how grief, love, and respect transcend different religious beliefs.

The six people wounded in the attack are beginning the lengthy process of recovery. The injured victims range in age from 27 to 70 years old and include four police officers. Today we learned the officers are in good spirits, although three of them face a long road to recovery.

CNN's Jean Casarez spoke with Dr. Ronald Yealy, the emergency physician overseeing the treatment of victims at the university Presbyterian medical center.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Doctor, we understand that several of your emergency room physicians actually went to the synagogue and began to triage the wounded yesterday. Explain how that happened.

DR. DONALD YEALY, CHIEF OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE, UPMC: We have an extensive interaction with Pittsburgh EMS over decades here, a very highly developed system. And we have one of the largest concentrations of physicians who specialize in care outside the hospital.

When the event happened, one of our physicians was nearby and became aware of it, responded to the scene. Very quickly, he engaged the most senior physician involved and a third physician also came onboard, who had special expertise in tactical EMS. That is, entering a scene that may still be unsecured and with active shooting and how do you get medical assets there. So we have the blessing of expertise and the long-standing relationship with the city and the county.

CASAREZ: So do you believe lives were saved because of that emergency response from your physicians?

YEALY: I think we did the best that we could for those people who didn't already have a fatal injury at the scene. I wish that we had the opportunity to have intervened on more of the patients, but we didn't have that opportunity.

What it allowed us to do is to know what was happening and who was going to need what with the best information possible. And do that hand in hand with the governmental and the first responding people.

CASAREZ: And what did come, four victims, two of them we know have been in critical condition. How many surgeries, at this point, have you had within those four victims?

YEALY: So the two most injured, one, it was an elderly gentlemen who had gunshot wounds to his abdomen. He has had two major surgical procedures. That's actually part of the process, something we have learned from the military, called a damage control operation initially to help settle the bleeding and stop the storm that happens after someone has a bad injury. So he has had two major operations. The other serious injured patient is a police officer, had all of his operations initially and is recovering now in the ICU.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Let's hope they all have a speedy, speedy recovery.

Daniel Stein was one of the 11 victims gunned down Saturday morning in the Tree of Life synagogue. Stein was retired. He lived in Squirrel Hill, in Pittsburgh, with his wife. His nephew, Steven says, and I'm quoting him now, "he was a great guy. He was a fun guy. He had a dry sense of humor and everybody loved him."

His son also posted a moving tribute calling Saturday, the worst day of my life. Joe Stein writes, my mom, sister and I are absolutely devastated and crushed. Our lives now are going to have to take a different path. Daniel Stein was 71 years old.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:53:00] BLITZER: These 11 wonderful people were at the Tree of Life synagogue Saturday morning for Shabbat services. They were simply praying. I imagine they were holding their prayer books, reading, and singing is Hebrew prayers, Jews have loved for thousands of years. I'm sure many of them were wearing the traditional prayer shawl.

Let's remember these 11 men and women were in that 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. And this coward of a killer came in with an assault rifle and three handbags and lots of ammunition. And as he himself said when law enforcement finally cornered him, I want all Jews to die.

According to the ADL, this is the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history. Let's remember the victims of this senseless attack.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The first name I heard was Cecil Rosenthal. Cecil was beautiful man with special needs. And I remember, from one I was growing up in Pittsburgh, we attended the same congregation. And he was always a sweet, sweet, gentle soul that was friendly to everybody.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Dr. Jerry was just somebody who when you see him, your eyes light up.

SIDNER: He is gone.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And he is gone.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think everyone will remember October 27th. I think that's going to be -- that's going to be a date that's etched in everybody's mind. But I think that squirrel hill is strong and we're g/going to remain that way.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The victims need to be talked about a lot. They can't talk for themselves anymore, and their families may not have the words. The victims can't ever leave our hearts.

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[18:55:01] BLITZER: I want to leave you remembering the names of these 11 wonderful, wonderful people. Let's never forget them.

Joyce Feinberg, age 75.

Richard Gottfried, age 65.

Rose Mallinger, age 97.

Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz, age 66.

Cecil Rosenthal, age 59.

And his brother David Rosenthal, age 54.

Bernice Simon, age 84 and her husband, Sylvan Simon, 86.

Daniel Stein, age 71.

Melvin Wax, age 88.

Irving Younger, 69 years old.

May they rest in peace. May their memory be a blessing.

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