Federal prosecutors delivered their closing arguments on Thursday in the trial of Robert Bowers, the man accused of perpetrating the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. They painted a picture of a man fueled by hatred, who transformed a place of worship into a scene of carnage.

Bowers faces 63 charges, some carrying the potential for the death penalty, including hate crimes resulting in death and obstruction of the free exercise of religion resulting in death. Prosecutor Mary Hahn emphasized Bowers' extensive online history of antisemitic and white supremacist content, arguing this hatred motivated the attack.

Hahn detailed the horrific events of October 27, 2018, describing how Bowers fired approximately 100 rounds, reloading multiple times and stepping over victims' bodies in his search for more people to shoot. She recounted Bowers' statement to police upon his surrender – after being shot by officers – that "all these Jews need to die."

The image above depicts the aftermath within the Tree of Life Synagogue, a stark reminder of the violence that took place. Hahn highlighted the vulnerability of the victims, many of whom were elderly, and urged the jury to hold Bowers accountable for the lives lost. She specifically mentioned Bernice and Sylvan Simon, a couple who died in their regular pews.

While the defense did not present any witnesses or evidence, their opening statement suggested Bowers' actions stemmed from a delusional belief that Jews were committing genocide by aiding refugees, rather than antisemitism. This contrasts sharply with the prosecution's portrayal of Bowers as driven by hate.

Following the closing arguments, the jury will begin deliberations. If a conviction is reached, the trial will proceed to a penalty phase where the jury will determine whether Bowers receives life imprisonment or the death penalty.