‘RACIALLY MOTIVATED’ ATTACK AT A SUPERMARKET IN NEW YORK LEFT 11 PEOPLE DEAD

Sun 15 May 2022:

According to the Buffalo Police Department, a gunman opened fire at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, on Saturday afternoon, killing at least ten people.

On Jefferson Avenue, at the Tops Markets, a mass shooting occurred. According to Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia, the gunman was an 18-year-old white guy.

He is under custody.

Gramaglia said 13 people were shot, 11 of whom are Black, while two others are white.

Not even a week ago, body cam footage was finally released of cops killing Quadry Sanders, an unarmed black man with his hands up. 15 shots were fired. Today we watch an armed Payton Gendron be brought in alive, after slaughtering 10 people in Buffalo. This is America. I’m tired. pic.twitter.com/q3f8q4pnVk

— bri (@brileighh11) May 15, 2022

FBI is investigating the shooting as a hate crime and as an act of racially-motivated violent extremism.

Stephen Belongia, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Buffalo field office, told reporters that the shooting is being investigated as “both a hate crime and a case of racially motivated violent extremism”.

The shooter was “very heavily” armed and was wearing tactical gear and a tactical helmet, according to Gramaglia.

“He had a camera that was live streaming what he was doing,” he added.

Joseph Gramaglia, the Buffalo Police Commissioner, said the suspect killed nine customers and a retired police officer working as an armed security guard.

The guard “engaged the suspect, fired multiple shots”, but the gunman shot him, he said.

Racist killing in Buffalo, New York: at least ten dead, mostly African Americans 🕊🪔 #BuffaloNY #New York #Buffalo pic.twitter.com/PNbJgiSwN9

— Arizona  (@ArizonaTourlan) May 15, 2022

When confronted by police in a vestibule of the shop, the suspect held a gun to his own neck but they talked him into dropping the weapon and surrendering, the police commissioner added.

The suspect was later identified as Payton Gendron, of Conklin, a New York state community about 320 kilometres (200 miles) southeast of Buffalo, two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press news agency. The officials were not permitted to speak publicly on the matter and did so on the condition of anonymity.

Gendron has now been arraigned on a charge of first-degree murder, which carries a sentence of life without parole. He is being held without bail.

Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, who is also Senate Majority leader, condemned the shooting and offered sympathy for the victim’s families.

“I ache for the victims and their families. I ache for Buffalo. I ache for the tight-knit East Side community. Racism has no place in our state or our country. I’ve spoken with the Mayor of Buffalo and offered any help we can provide. We stand with the people of Buffalo,” he wrote on Twitter.

At the White House, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Joe Biden was receiving regular updates on the shooting and the investigation and had offered prayers with the first lady for the victims and their loved ones.

“The president has been briefed by his Homeland Security adviser on the horrific shooting in Buffalo, New York, this afternoon. He will continue to receive updates throughout the evening and tomorrow as further information develops,” she said.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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