fter SWAT officer Anthony Burke was shot in his right hand — his dominant hand — by the man who attacked three congregations in the Tree of Life building on Oct. 27, 2018, he asked another officer to place a pistol in his left hand so he could get back to work. Burke testified that when he arrived at the Tree of Life building that morning, he joined an emergency team already forming outside, then entered the building to help protect first responders while they cleared the main sanctuary. The officers then headed to “the second chapel” where they saw a man who had been gunned down and heard a woman “screaming erratically.” Burke was the ninth and final witness Thursday. His testimony followed that of FBI experts regarding data extracted from the defendant’s cell phone, DNA evidence from the crime scene, and items discovered in the defendant’s apartment. Other witnesses included New Light Congregation’s Co-President Stephen Cohen and Tree of Life Congregation’s President Alan Hausman.

Photo Credit:  Toby Tabachnick/Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle