Pittsburgh shooting suspect pleads not guilty

The suspect in the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre pleaded not guilty to dozens of charges Monday as his new lawyer indicated he might be open to a plea deal. Robert Bowers, a 46-year-old truck driver who authorities say gunned down 11 people at Tree of Life Synagogue in October, appeared in federal court with attorney Judy Clarke, who has represented notorious killers facing the death penalty, including Unabomber Ted Kaczynski and Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

Prosecutors have not said whether they will pursue the death penalty against Bowers, who allegedly raged against Jews as he carried out the shooting. Police eventually shot Bowers and brought the rampage to an end. Asked if the government would consider a plea deal that spares Bowers a potential death sentence, U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady said in a statement Monday: “The defendant is charged with crimes that carry the maximum possible penalty of death. We are committed to seeking justice for the victims and their families in this case.”