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On this day, May 14, 2022, ten people, all African Americans, were murdered in a mass shooting in Buffalo, New York.
2022 Buffalo shooting
Coordinates: 42°54'35"N 78°51'10"W
The Tops supermarket in February 2022
Location: 1275 Jefferson Avenue, Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Coordinates: 42°54'35"N 78°51'10"W
Date: May 14, 2022
c. 2:30 – 2:36 p.m. (EDT; UTC−04:00)
Target: African Americans
Attack type: Mass shooting, mass murder, domestic terrorism, right-wing terrorism, hate crime
On May 14, 2022, a mass shooting occurred in Buffalo, New York, United States, at a Tops Friendly Markets supermarket in the East Side neighborhood. Ten people, all of whom were African Americans, were murdered and three were injured. The shooter, identified as 18-year-old Payton S. Gendron, livestreamed part of the attack on Twitch, but the livestream was shut down by the service in under two minutes. Gendron was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder. He formally entered a plea of "not guilty" on May 19, 2022. On November 28, 2022, Gendron pleaded guilty to all state charges in the shooting, including murder, domestic terrorism, and hate crimes. On February 15, 2023, Gendron was sentenced to 11 consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole; as of that date, federal charges are still ongoing, and the federal prosecution also expressed their intention to seek the death penalty.
Gendron is reported to have written a manifesto describing himself as an ethno-nationalist and a supporter of white supremacy who is motivated to commit acts of political violence. He voiced support for the far-right "Great Replacement" conspiracy theory in the context of a "white genocide". The attack has been described as an act of domestic terrorism, and it is also being investigated as a hate crime which was motivated by racism. Governor Kathy Hochul promised policy changes in the state as a result of the attack while condemning the shooter; shortly afterwards, New York banned most semi-automatic sales to people under 21 and certain types of body armor. Around March 19, 2024, a New York judge ruled Reddit and YouTube must face lawsuits in connection with the mass shooting over accusations that they played a role in the radicalization of the shooter.
{snip}
Perpetrator
Main article: Payton Gendron
Gendron following his initial arrest on May 14, 2022
{snip}
Legal proceedings
Gendron was arraigned in Buffalo City Court, a New York State Court. Represented by a public defender, Gendron entered a not guilty plea to multiple charges of first-degree murder. He was held without bail under suicide watch. On the same day, the Attorney General of the United States, Merrick Garland, confirmed that the United States Department of Justice was investigating the shooting as a hate crime and as an act of racially motivated violent extremism. On June 1, a grand jury issued a 25-count indictment against Gendron. He was charged with "one count of domestic terrorism motivated by hate", as well as "10 counts of first-degree murder as a hate crime, 10 counts of second-degree murder as a hate crime, three counts of attempted second-degree murder as a hate crime and one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon", according to The Washington Post. Gendron was arraigned in Erie County Court on June 2, 2022, and pled not guilty to all 25 charges.
On November 28, Gendron pled guilty to fifteen state-level counts: ten counts of first-degree murder, three counts of attempted murder motivated by hate, criminal weapons possession, and domestic terrorism motivated by hate. On February 15, 2023, Gendron was denied youthful offender status and received 11 life sentences without the possibility of parole plus 90 years.
As of the date of his state sentencing, Gendron was still facing federal charges. In December 2022, Gendron's lawyer indicated that he would be willing to plead guilty to the federal charges to avoid the death penalty. On January 12, 2024, the Department of Justice said that it would seek the death penalty, making this the first death penalty case under Garland, who had in the past expressed his opposition to capital punishment. In explaining their reasons to seek the death penalty, the prosecutors stated that Gendron's decision to select the supermarket showed he planned to "maximize the number of Black victims", his beliefs in white supremacy, and the substantial planning and premeditation behind the crime, were among the factors they considered in seeking capital punishment for Gendron. Gendron's trial is set to begin on August 17, 2026.[27]
{snip}
[27] "Judge sets 2026 start date for Tops mass shooting federal trial". wgrz.com. July 2, 2025. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
Coordinates: 42°54'35"N 78°51'10"W
The Tops supermarket in February 2022
Location: 1275 Jefferson Avenue, Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Coordinates: 42°54'35"N 78°51'10"W
Date: May 14, 2022
c. 2:30 – 2:36 p.m. (EDT; UTC−04:00)
Target: African Americans
Attack type: Mass shooting, mass murder, domestic terrorism, right-wing terrorism, hate crime
On May 14, 2022, a mass shooting occurred in Buffalo, New York, United States, at a Tops Friendly Markets supermarket in the East Side neighborhood. Ten people, all of whom were African Americans, were murdered and three were injured. The shooter, identified as 18-year-old Payton S. Gendron, livestreamed part of the attack on Twitch, but the livestream was shut down by the service in under two minutes. Gendron was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder. He formally entered a plea of "not guilty" on May 19, 2022. On November 28, 2022, Gendron pleaded guilty to all state charges in the shooting, including murder, domestic terrorism, and hate crimes. On February 15, 2023, Gendron was sentenced to 11 consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole; as of that date, federal charges are still ongoing, and the federal prosecution also expressed their intention to seek the death penalty.
Gendron is reported to have written a manifesto describing himself as an ethno-nationalist and a supporter of white supremacy who is motivated to commit acts of political violence. He voiced support for the far-right "Great Replacement" conspiracy theory in the context of a "white genocide". The attack has been described as an act of domestic terrorism, and it is also being investigated as a hate crime which was motivated by racism. Governor Kathy Hochul promised policy changes in the state as a result of the attack while condemning the shooter; shortly afterwards, New York banned most semi-automatic sales to people under 21 and certain types of body armor. Around March 19, 2024, a New York judge ruled Reddit and YouTube must face lawsuits in connection with the mass shooting over accusations that they played a role in the radicalization of the shooter.
{snip}
Perpetrator
Main article: Payton Gendron
Gendron following his initial arrest on May 14, 2022
{snip}
Legal proceedings
Gendron was arraigned in Buffalo City Court, a New York State Court. Represented by a public defender, Gendron entered a not guilty plea to multiple charges of first-degree murder. He was held without bail under suicide watch. On the same day, the Attorney General of the United States, Merrick Garland, confirmed that the United States Department of Justice was investigating the shooting as a hate crime and as an act of racially motivated violent extremism. On June 1, a grand jury issued a 25-count indictment against Gendron. He was charged with "one count of domestic terrorism motivated by hate", as well as "10 counts of first-degree murder as a hate crime, 10 counts of second-degree murder as a hate crime, three counts of attempted second-degree murder as a hate crime and one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon", according to The Washington Post. Gendron was arraigned in Erie County Court on June 2, 2022, and pled not guilty to all 25 charges.
On November 28, Gendron pled guilty to fifteen state-level counts: ten counts of first-degree murder, three counts of attempted murder motivated by hate, criminal weapons possession, and domestic terrorism motivated by hate. On February 15, 2023, Gendron was denied youthful offender status and received 11 life sentences without the possibility of parole plus 90 years.
As of the date of his state sentencing, Gendron was still facing federal charges. In December 2022, Gendron's lawyer indicated that he would be willing to plead guilty to the federal charges to avoid the death penalty. On January 12, 2024, the Department of Justice said that it would seek the death penalty, making this the first death penalty case under Garland, who had in the past expressed his opposition to capital punishment. In explaining their reasons to seek the death penalty, the prosecutors stated that Gendron's decision to select the supermarket showed he planned to "maximize the number of Black victims", his beliefs in white supremacy, and the substantial planning and premeditation behind the crime, were among the factors they considered in seeking capital punishment for Gendron. Gendron's trial is set to begin on August 17, 2026.[27]
{snip}
[27] "Judge sets 2026 start date for Tops mass shooting federal trial". wgrz.com. July 2, 2025. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
Wed May 14, 2025: On this day, May 14, 2022, ten people, all African Americans, were murdered in a mass shooting in Buffalo, New York.
Tue May 14, 2024: On this day, May 14, 2022, ten people, all African Americans, were murdered in a mass shooting in Buffalo, New York.
Hat tip, LetMyPeopleVote
Tue May 14, 2024: President Biden-Honoring the memories of the 10 souls stolen from us in an unconscionable act of hatred