Gendron, a known supremacist and an alleged Trump supporter had previously threaten to shoot up a school when he was 17.
By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.
May 16, 2022
Buffalo, New York - 18-year-old Payton Gendron of Conklin was charged with 10 counts of homicide in connection with the mass shooting at Tops Friendly Market located in the 1200 block of Jefferson Street in Buffalo, a predominantly Black neighborhood on Saturday. He surrendered to police while holding a carbine rifle (Bushmaster XM-15) to his neck and was taken into custody after killing 10 victims of color in cold blood including a Tops Friendly Market security guard, Aaron Salter Jr., 55, (retired Buffalo police officer) who returned fire before entering the supermarket, but struck Gendron's body armor vest to no avail to stop him. Gendron then executed Salter Jr..
11 of the 13 shooting victims are Black, two are White and four were employees at the Tops Friendly Market, according to police.
The 10 deceased victims were identified as:
• Celestine Chaney, 65, of Buffalo
• Roberta A. Drury, 32, of Buffalo
• Andre Mackniel, 53, of Auburn
• Katherine Massey, 72, of Buffalo
• Margus D. Morrison, 52, of Buffalo
• Hayward Patterson, 67, of Buffalo
• Aaron Salter Jr., 55, of Lockport
• Geraldine Chapman Talley, 62, of Buffalo
• Ruth Whitfield, 86, of Buffalo
• Pearl Young, 77, of Buffalo
Those injured with non-life-threatening injuries were identified as:
• Christopher Braden, 55
• Zaire Goodman, 20
• Jennifer Warrington, 50
In 2021, Gendron was committed for psychiatric evaluation after he threaten to shoot up the Susquehanna Valley Central High School in Broome County, New York during graduation, according to court records.
He was taken into custody by NY State police for mental evaluation and was released after several days of treatment under the State's mental health law.
Gendron was considered to have mental issues and continued to be concern for authorities.
State authorities say that Gendron committed the homicides due to hate and being radicalized by online White supremacy propaganda, according to the investigation.
Gendron remains in jail without bail and federal charges are expected as well.
If convicted, Gendron is facing 10 consecutive life sentences in prison without the possibility of parole for each homicide count. He is also facing up to 25 years in prison for each count of attempted murder.
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