On the morning of July 14, 2022, in Buffalo, New York, 19-year-old Payton Gendron, accused of Tops’ Supermarket massacre shooting massacre, plead not guilty. The 10 Black victims remain lifeless after the incident occurred in May. Gendron’s charges involve 14 hate crimes and 13 firearm offenses, all of which stem from the Buffalo incident.
Tops’ Supermarket Incident
Unfortunately, the Tops’ Supermarket massacre occurred on May 14, 2022, when white gunman, Peyton Gendron the accused shooter of Tops’ Supermarket, shot 10 Black individuals, ranging from ages 30 to their mid-80s. The majority of victims were from Buffalo, however, some were from Lockport and Auburn, New York. Officials label the shooting as a gesture of “pure evil” and racially motivated; however, some people hope the court case results as “short of trial.”
The accused stood silent, wearing an orange jumpsuit and shackles, during the briefing. His attorney entered his plead, adding she hopes to resolve the case before his trial. The 27 counts contain notable findings that will contribute to the result of Gendron’s trial and be the deciding factor on whether he will receive the death penalty. Each finding includes what encouraged Payton Gendron, the accused shooter, to go forth with the shooting and whether it was racially motivated.
Day of Shooting
In footage from that horrific day, Gendron is seen in body armor, as he opens fire. A year before the accused was hospitalized for a mental-health evaluation for making threats. Investigators also traced back to when Gendron was in high school, where he would write about attacks and how he would orchestrate a mass shooting one day.
A year later, Gendron drove for more than three hours from his home in Conklin, New York. May 14th became a tragic day in the Buffalo, New York community and a day family and neighbors will never forget.
Tops’ Supermarket continues to value its customers; reopening two months after the shooting.
Written by: China Page
Sources:
PBS News Hour: Tops’ Buffalo supermarket to reopen two months after mass shooting; by Carolyn Thompson
The Wall Street Journal: Buffalo Shooting Suspect Wrote in School About Wanting to Carry Out an Attack; by Jimmy Vielkind, Nicole Friedman & Ginger Adams Otis
U.S. News & World Report: Buffalo Mass Shooting Suspect Pleads Not Guilty to Federal Hate, Firearm Charges; by Reuters
NBC News: Suspect in racist Buffalo mass shooting pleads not guilty to federal hate crime charges; by The Associated Press
Top and Featured Image Courtesy of Kevin T. Quinn‘s Flickr Page- All Creative Common License
Inset Image Courtesy of ckowalik’s Flickr Page- All Creative Common License
