PITTSBURGH (AP) — A federal jury in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania announced Thursday that the gunman who killed 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue in 2018 is eligible for the death penalty. This decision sets the stage for further deliberation on whether he should be sentenced to death or life in prison.

Robert Bowers, the assailant, had expressed anti-Semitic beliefs online before carrying out the attack with an AR-15 rifle and other weapons. The jury agreed with prosecutors that Bowers had formed the intent to kill and that he showed no remorse for his actions. Bowers’ lawyers argued that his ability to form intent was hindered by mental illness and a delusional belief that he was preventing a genocide of white people by targeting Jews.

Evidence and testimony will now focus on the impact of Bowers’ crimes on survivors and the victims’ loved ones. Bowers, a truck driver from suburban Baldwin, killed members of three congregations at the Tree of Life synagogue on October 27, 2018, and injured two worshippers and five police officers.

Last month, Bowers was found guilty on 63 criminal counts, including hate crimes resulting in death. Prosecutors rejected his guilty plea in exchange for a life sentence, opting instead to pursue the death penalty. If the jury decides that Bowers deserves to die, it would be the first federal death sentence imposed during Joe Biden’s presidency, despite his campaign promise to end capital punishment.

Throughout the trial, experts testified about Bowers’ mental condition, with conflicting perspectives on whether he had schizophrenia, delusions, or brain disorders that influenced his actions. The prosecution argued that Bowers meticulously planned the attack, while the defense claimed that a delusional belief system impaired his ability to form intent.

To impose the death penalty, jurors must unanimously agree that the aggravating factors outweigh the mitigating ones. The prosecution will present evidence of aggravating factors, such as religious hatred and targeting vulnerable victims, while the defense will plea for leniency and present mitigating factors.

The trial will continue to unfold as jurors navigate the complex decision of whether Robert Bowers should face the death penalty.