U.S. adds charges in Pennsylvania synagogue shooting case

A Pennsylvania man was charged with additional federal hate crimes and firearms offenses in the October rampage at a Pittsburgh synagogue that killed 11 people, which could lead to the death penalty if he is found guilty, the U.S. Justice Department said on Tuesday.

The new charges against Robert Bowers - who has pleaded not guilty to the earlier changes - cover obstructing free exercise of religious beliefs that led to death and injury, committing hate crimes that also resulted in death, and discharging a firearm.

The Justice Department said 22 of the counts are capital punishment-eligible offenses. If convicted, Bowers also faces a life sentence without parole, to be followed by a consecutive sentence of 250 years' imprisonment. (Reporting by Lisa Lambert; editing by Jonathan Oatis)