Ari Mahler, a nurse at Pittsburgh-based Allegheny General Hospital, described in a viral Facebook post how he treated the suspected Pittsburgh synagogue shooter and "chose to show him empathy," according to ABC News.
Here are seven insights:
1. "I wanted him to feel compassion," Mr. Mahler wrote in his Facebook post. "I felt that the best way to honor his victims was for a Jew to prove him wrong."
2. Robert Bowers, accused of killing 11 Jewish Americans, was shot in police crossfire at the Tree of Life Synagogue Oct. 27. He was treated at Allegheny General Hospital by Mr. Mahler, who is a son of a rabbi.
3. "I’m sure he had no idea I was Jewish," Mahler wrote in his Facebook post. "Why thank a Jewish nurse, when 15 minutes beforehand, you’d shoot me in the head with no remorse? I didn’t say a word to him about my religion. I chose not to say anything to him the entire time."
4. Mr. Mahler also wrote [as] "anyone's nurse, my care is given through kindness, my actions are measured with empathy, and regardless of the person you may be when you're not in my care, each breath you take is more beautiful than the last when you're lying on my stretcher."
5. "Love in the face of evil gives others hope," Mr. Mahler posted on Facebook. "It demonstrates humanity. It reaffirms why we’re all here."
6. Allegheny Health Network declined ABC News' request for comment, but confirmed Mr. Mahler's Facebook post as genuine.
7. Mr. Bowers was released from the hospital and is held at Butler County Prison in Pittsburgh. He was indicted Oct. 31 on charges that included federal hate crimes.
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