BUFFALO, N.Y. — On Saturday, the Associated Press reported that in the afternoon a white gunman wearing military gear attacked shoppers and employees at Tops Supermarket in Buffalo. As a result of the attack ten people were killed and three more were wounded. Since most of the victims were Black, officials have said they are investigating the shooting as a racially motivated hate crime.
“The Tops family is heartbroken over the senseless violence that impacted our associates and customers at our store on Jefferson Avenue,” said Tops’ Media Relations Manager Kathy Sautter.
Around 2:30 p.m. Saturday 18-year-old Payton Gendron, of Conklin, wearing body armor and livestreaming the event to social media via a helmet camera, opened fire outside the store.
As reported by the Associated Press and according to police, the gunman began shooting in the parking lot then moved inside the store. Security guard Aaron Salter fired multiple shots but none penetrated the gunman’s armor. The gunman killed Salter, who was Black, and then stalked through the aisles, shooting shoppers. When police confronted the gunman in the store’s vestibule, he put his rifle to his own neck, but surrendered and dropped the gun with coaxing from the officers.
Seen in a portion of the livestreamed video, at one point Gendron aimed his weapon at a white person cowering behind a checkout counter, but said “Sorry” and did not shoot — which could be what motivated the police to investigate as a racially motivated hate crime.
“We are working quickly to make sure that all of our associates have access to counseling and support that they may need,” stated Sautter. “Tops has been committed to this community and to the city of Buffalo for decades and this tragedy will not change that commitment. We are working to find alternatives for our customers in this community while the store is closed.”
Police have not released the names of most of the victims. They have said that, including the wounded, 11 victims were Black and two were white. After the shooting, Gendron appeared before a judge in a medical gown and was arraigned on murder charges.
A document circulated widely online seemingly outlines Gendron’s racist, anti-immigrant and antisemitic beliefs, reported the Associated Press. Among them was a desire to drive all people not of European descent from the U.S.
A law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Sunday that Gendron had threatened to carry out a shooting last year at Susquehanna Valley High School around the time of graduation. He was 17 years old at the time and was sent for mental health treatment. The law enforcement official was not authorized to speak publicly on the investigation and did so on the condition of anonymity.
At a news briefing on Saturday, Erie County Sheriff John Garcia called the Buffalo supermarket shooting a hate crime.
“This was pure evil. It was (a) straight-up racially motivated hate crime from somebody outside of our community, outside of the City of Good Neighbors … coming into our community and trying to inflict that evil upon us,” Garcia said.
The FBI is investigating the shooting as both racially motivated violent extremism and a hate crime, reported the Associated Press.
“While the Tops location at Jefferson Avenue will remain closed until further notice, we are steadfast in our commitment to serving every corner of our community as we have for the past 60 years,” said Sautter. “Knowing the importance of this location and serving families on the east side of the city, we have taken immediate steps to ensure our neighbors are able to meet their grocery and pharmacy needs by providing free bus shuttle service starting today [Sunday].” Beginning today the bus schedule will run from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. daily from Jefferson Avenue and Riley Street to the nearby Tops on Elmwood Avenue.
“We are also working closely with Council Member Ulysees Wingo Sr., who represents the Masten District, to provide free food and supplies to our neighbors via the Resource Council of WNY at 347 East Ferry St. in Buffalo,” said Sautter.
