PITTSBURGH —

The jury in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial has reached a verdict.

The verdict is expected to be read shortly before noon on Friday.

Assuming the jury returns a conviction, the trial would enter what’s expected to be a lengthy penalty phase, with the same jurors deciding Bowers’ sentence: life in prison or the death penalty. Bowers' attorneys have focused their efforts on trying to save his life.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Deliberations began around 2:30 p.m. Thursday. Jurors heard closing arguments by prosecution and defense, plus a prosecution rebuttal.

At one point, jurors had a question in regard to counts 40 to 47. They'd like instructions on the meaning of "intention to kill." Does Bowers have need to know the person was there? The prosecution says the elements for intent to kill do not require Bowers know the (specific) person was there. The defense thinks the answer is that Bowers did need to have knowledge the person was there.

Editor's note: Some of the testimony described below may be graphic to some readers.

Prosecutor Mary Hahn told the jury Robert Bowers turned a sacred house of worship into a hunting ground. She urged the jury to hold Bowers accountable for everything he did to the survivors and to the 11 people he killed.

The prosecution walked jurors through the killings as Bowers moved through the synagogue, showing the jurors photos of the victims in life and then showing the images of their dead bodies inside the synagogue.

She argued that the victims were targeted because of their religion. When Bowers surrendered to police, Hahn said it wasn't because he had a change of heart but because he had run out of ammunition.

Hahn said Bowers boasted to police that he did it on his own and said that "all Jews need to die."

The prosecution said in the U.S., everyone has a right to worship, but no one has a right to enter a house of worship and kill worshippers because of their faith.

Public defender Elisa Long acknowledged the pain, horror and anguish of the victims and said the loss was immeasurable, and the defense offers no justification for that.

She went on to argue the jury should focus on Bowers' intent, saying he didn't kill because of the victims' religious beliefs but because of his own thoughts about immigration.

She pointed to his obsession with HIAS, a Jewish organization that provides services to immigrant refugees. While acknowledging Bowers' thoughts were nonsensical and illogical, she said Bowers made a connection in his own mind between Jews and immigrants, who he regarded as invaders.

Long said it's clear Bowers believed he had to kill Jews because they were helping to bring immigrants.

She said there's no doubt Bowers expressed his hatred for Jews on Gab, a far-right social media site, but that his intent wasn't to obstruct their participation in religious services.

In a prosecution rebuttal, U.S. attorney for Western Pennsylvania Eric Olshan told the jury, Bowers expressed his hate for Jews and said it was his reason to kill. He argued the jury should take Bowers at his word.

He asked where did Bowers go that day, to an immigration resettlement area, to the borders, to HIAS headquarters?

Olshan said no; he went to Squirrel Hill, the center of the Jewish universe in Pittsburgh, to the Tree of Life synagogue building on that Saturday morning while worship services were underway.

Olshan told jurors when someone goes to a place of worship and shoots worshippers with an AR-15, that is obstructing their free exercise of religion.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Sister station WTAE reporter Bob Mayo is tweeting from the federal courthouse. Follow his coverage below. WARNING: Some of the testimony may be graphic

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Reactions are pouring in after the conviction of Robert Bowers, the Pittsburgh synagogue shooter who was found guilty of killing 11 people in 2018.Here's what some have said so far:"I am grateful to God for getting us to this day," Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of the Tree of Life Congregation, who survived the attack, said. And I am thankful for the law enforcement who ran into danger to rescue me, and the U.S. Attorney who stood up in court to defend my right to pray. Today I'm focused on being with my congregation and praying, singing and clapping in praise of God as we do each Shabbat. In the face of the horror of our community has experienced, I can think of no better response than practicing my Jewish faith and leading worship.""Today's verdict was a step toward justice in Pittsburgh, but the horror and pain of October 27, 2018, will never go away," Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said on Twitter. "My heart remains with the families of the 11 victims who were massacred as they worshipped at Tree of Life that day. May their memories be a blessing."While the verdict will not bring back your loved ones who were so violently killed, my hope is that today provides some level of comfort and helps to ease the pain, even if ever so slightly. May their memories always be for a blessing," said Carole Zawatsky, CEO of Tree of Life. "Let us, this day, reaffirm our resolve to bring light into our world and keep the memory of each of the victims in our hearts as we do the work of Tikkun HaOlam, repairing our broken world.""I am thankful for everyone who got us to this day. Every day for the past four and a half years, I’ve tried to look for the helpers: the public safety department and law enforcement officers, the attorneys, our fellow Pittsburgers who have continued to offer their care and support day in and day out," Tree of Life President Alan Hausman said, echoing Fred Rogers. "The way our community and people of all faiths came together after October 27, 2018, has helped me and continues to inspire me and give me strength as we move forward.""Our community has been waiting a long time for this day," Michael Bernstein, chair of the Tree of Life Interim Governance said. "We are grateful to the Justice Department and the jury for their work to get us to a verdict. Today is a reminder that we live in a nation where vulnerable communities can be confident that those who engage in hate-fueled violence will be held accountable. It also marks the start of a new chapter for our community as we continue to heal and move forward as work to build a world in which hate no longer impacts any community. As the legal process continues, our energies will lie in building a better future for all as a part of the collaborative movement across communities and generations to uproot antisemitism and identity-based hate in all its forms.""Justice has been served," the American Jewish Committee said in a statement. "We realize it does little to ease the pain for the families and friends of the 11 people murdered at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh simply for being Jewish and practicing their faith. However, we hope this verdict allows them to continue the slow process of healing if not closure. The memories of those taken will always be a blessing. Countering the antisemitic hate that invaded their sacred and joyous space must be the job for all of society, not just the Jewish community.""In the 7th chapter of the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy, Moses delivers the powerful message: ‘the Lord has set His heart on you because the Lord loved you.’ Those words were spoken to the beloved Jewish people," said Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik. "At this delicate time for the Pittsburgh Jewish Community and beyond, we all need to embrace not only God’s words but especially at this time set our hearts on our Jewish sisters and brothers as God does.""Gisele and I are remembering the victims whose lives were taken during the horrific Tree of Life massacre in Pittsburgh over four years ago," said U.S. Sen. John Fetterman. "Today, a jury found the shooter guilty of all charges. This is a step towards justice for such a hateful, disgusting, and antisemitic attack. We all must continue to stand in solidarity with Pennsylvania’s Jewish community against the evil of antisemitism.""Today's conviction is a step towards justice for the 11 Jewish worshippers killed by a white supremacist gunman in 2018," U.S. Rep Summer Lee said. "May the memories of those taken from us be forever a blessing. And May the strength and resilience shown by the survivors, the victims’ family members, and the entire Jewish community throughout this heartbreaking trial forever be an inspiration to us all. They inspire me to work even harder to confront the root causes of hatred, racism, and bigotry so that no community has to live in fear of such senseless violence ever again.""Five years ago, our city was shaken when 11 lives were taken in an act of antisemitic hate," said Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey. "Today, we remember the lives of Bernice Simon, Sylvan Simon, Melvin Wax, Daniel Stein, Irving Younger, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Joyce Feinberg, Richard Gottfried, Cecil Rosenthal, and David Rosenthal. May their memories be a blessing. Pittsburgh, please join me in praying for the family and friends of those we lost and those who survived this horrific tragedy. I hope that today helps our Jewish brothers and sisters, and our entire city, begin their journey towards healing. As we continue to eliminate hate from our beloved city, remember: Pittsburgh is stronger than hate."

PITTSBURGH —

"You are the jury."

That's what Judge Robert Colville told the people picked Thursday as the 12 jurors and six alternates for the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial. The 18 have been told to be back at the federal courthouse Tuesday morning for the opening statements in the trial of defendant Robert Bowers.

Bowers is charged with the shooting and killing of 11 worshippers from three congregations inside the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill in 2018.

Maggie Feinstein, the director of the 10.27 Healing Partnership, was among those observing the court proceedings. She spoke with reporters about the people who spent weeks going being screened as potential jurors.

"Jurors sense the responsibility of their civic duty and to being the crucial part of the building of a just society. And that was exceptional to watch," Feinstein said. "A lot was asked of them and the unique perspective on crime, punishment and justice that were brought out represent how important it is to have a diverse set of jurors who can evaluate the evidence to arrive at answers."

The defendant was active in conferring with his attorneys during the final strikes of potential jurors. The defense challenged some of the strikes by the prosecution, arguing that they removed all four African American potential jurors, the sole Hispanic potential juror and the sole Jewish potential juror.

The prosecution then outlined the reasons they were struck, saying they were not related to race, ethnicity or religion. The prosecution said the reasons included their positions on the death penalty, emotional responses during their interviews and – in the case of one potential juror – failing to show up in court on Thursday.

There was one potential juror who was allowed to leave early because his pregnant wife was going into induced labor. But the judge told the other jurors that the man will be part of the jury, however, and will be back to join them on Tuesday.

Between now and the trial's start Tuesday, the judge will consider motions on how certain graphic and troubling evidence will be handled.

"The attack on Oct. 27, 2018, is awful, and reliving the details will be extremely difficult for many people. We understand that the community may feel motivated to reach out and support, and we welcome that support," Feinstein said. "I'm here because I'm hearing some broader anxiety in the community, and I want to remind people that it's not your duty to absorb every graphic detail in order to provide support to each other."

"It's not your responsibility to bear witness to all of the details, either through what is in the news or by coming to the courthouse. Some will choose to do these things, but for others, if they do that, they may not have the energy to give support to other people. It may drain them of all that energy."

Video above: Tree of Life shooting: Some family members want death penalty

She says the healing partnership has therapists and drop-in counseling available during the trial.

"It is reasonable for many people to experience trauma related to the legal process. There are many resources across the city, from therapists to healing meditation communities, from houses of worship to community centers. At the 10.27 Healing Partnership, we will continue to offer programs for wellness and for healing, as well as drop-in counseling support five days per week. We welcome you."

Colville has ruled that the names of the jurors will be sealed.

Bowers is facing a total of 63 counts in federal court, including hate crime charges. The U.S. Department of Justice has said it intends to seek the death penalty.

The Oct. 27, 2018, shooting killed 11 Jewish worshippers and injured others, including police, at the Tree of Life — Or L'Simcha Congregation building in Squirrel Hill. Two other congregations, New Light Congregation and Congregation Dor Hadash, were also observing Shabbat services during the attack.