Buffalo Supermarket Mass Shooting Called ‘Straight-Up Racially Motivated Hate Crime’
UPDATE
May 14, 2022 9:30 p.m. ET: The 18-year old, white male who is suspected in today’s (May 14) mass shooting at a Buffalo supermarket has been identified. Authorities from the Erie County District Attorney’s office announced that Payton S. Gendron is the gunman who is suspected in the shooting.
According to CNN, 13 people were shot, 10 fatally and 11 are Black while two are White. Four of the people shot were store employees, including the security guard.
The FBI has noted that the incident is being investigated as a hate crime.
"This is the number one priority of the Department of Justice, and I can assure the citizens of this community that anything that we can do at the federal level, with this case will be done. And justice will be served for the victims," said Special Agent Stephen Belongia, who is directing the FBI Buffalo field office.
May 14, 2022 8:11 p.m. ET: At least 10 people were killed and three more injured on Saturday after a mass shooting at a Buffalo, New York supermarket that the FBI is now describing as a “case of racially motivated violent extremism.”
The gunman, who has yet to be identified, is being described as an 18-year-old, white male wearing military-style clothing, body armor and a helmet. He is said to have been carrying a high-powered assault rifle. He was reportedly taken into custody by police after the shooting rampage at the Tops Friendly Market, where he reportedly fired approximately 60 rounds.
“The shooter was not from this community,” Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said Saturday (May 14), according to CNN. “In fact, the shooter traveled hours from outside this community to perpetrate this crime on the people of Buffalo.”
The unidentified gunman also reportedly live-streamed the mass shooting on Twitch and left behind a “manifesto” touting white supremacist conspiracy theories. Buffalo police didn’t confirm such reports but did acknowledge they’re investigating to see if the attack was racially motivated.
According to the Associated Press, the supermarket is located in a predominantly Black neighborhood outside of downtown Buffalo. Three of the victims were reportedly shot and killed in the parking lot outside of the store before the gunman entered and began shooting inside the Tops supermarket. After leaving the supermarket, the shooter encountered officers.
“This was a straight-up racially motivated hate crime,” Erie County sheriff John C. Garcia said at a press conference Saturday, according to the New York Times.
“I am closely monitoring the shooting at a grocery store in Buffalo,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Buffalo native, tweeted Saturday. “We have offered assistance to local officials. If you are in Buffalo, please avoid the area and follow guidance from law enforcement and local officials.”
Tops Friendly Markets also issued a statement, per Rolling Stone: “We are shocked and deeply saddened by this senseless act of violence and our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.”
NAACP President Derrick Johnson called the shooting "absolutely devastating. Our hearts are with the community and all who have been impacted by this terrible tragedy. Hate and racism have no place in America."
