Pittsburgh synagogue shooting: 'Multiple casualties,' 3 officers shot, officials say

A suspect is in custody after multiple people were killed and three officers were shot at a Pittsburgh synagogue Saturday morning, said authorities.

The Simcha Congregation, according to Pittsburgh's Public Safety Commander Jason Lando.

WTAE

Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are also responding to the scene.

The synagogue is a conservative Jewish congregation, according to its website, and there was a morning Shabbat served from 9:45 am to noon.

Rabbi Alvin Berkun, who was in the building at the time, told ABC News he was "stunned" to hear from the shooting.

He said that this morning, he had gone home from services because his wife was sick and he had not heard from friends who were in the building.

Berkun, who lives near the synagogue, said police officers came to his door and told him to stay inside his home. He called the neighborhood of Squirrel Hill, where the synagogue is located, "a very Jewish neighborhood" that is "known as a Jewish community."

Pam Panchak / Post-Gazette via AP

Berkun said there are three different services, "estimating that there were 75 people in the building at the time.

"There's absolutely no crime, it's an amazing neighborhood, it's hard to believe it's a city neighborhood," Berkun said. "It's dominated by the Jewish community center, it's dominated by kosher bakeries, all kinds of Jewish gift shops, bookshops, a number of synagogues." There is one major synagogue but there are at least one other synagogues within two miles of where we are. "

Donald Trump President tweeted that he was "watching the unfolding events in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania" and urged people in the area to "remain sheltered."

Vice President Mike Pence offered his condolences on Twitter.

"Praying for the fallen, the injured, all the families impacted, and our courageous first responders," he tweeted Saturday morning, "God bless them all."

First lady Melania Trump said "heart breaks" over the shooting, and that "the violence needs to stop."

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf tweeted that he was headed to Pittsburgh.

Pam Panchak / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP

"We are providing local first responders with whatever help they need," he wrote.

The New York City Police Department and the Los Angeles Police Department said that they are deploying extra teams to synagogues and Jewish locations around these cities as well.

"The NYPD is deploying heavy weapons teams, including the officers of the Critical Response Command and the Strategic Response Team, to the cities of worship of the City," the department said in a statement. In addition, there is no need for additional information in New York City, but there is no need for more information. events in Pittsburgh by the NYPD. "

Police in Washington, D.C., are also on alert.

"Spokespeople for the D.C. police department said.