Buffalo Grocery Shooting Suspect Payton Gendron Enters a Guilty Plea to Counts of Murder and Hate-Related Terrorism
Before the attack, the 19-year-old penned a racist manifesto online, leaving 10 black customers and employees dead and three others hurt.
A white supremacist who admitted to killing many people in a shooting spree at a Buffalo supermarket has admitted to both murder and acts of terrorism motivated by hatred.
Payton Gendron, 19, traveled three hours by car from his home in the Binghamton area of New York State to the Buffalo Tops Friendly Markets location, where he opened fire with an assault rifle in the AR-15 style semi-automatic configuration.
In the attack in May of this year, the youngster, who was donning body armor reminiscent of the military at the time, shot and killed 10 people while injuring three more.
Before the attack, according to police, Gendron posted a racist manifesto online in which he allegedly stated that he had targeted the town because it was home to a significant black population.
Gendron had eleven black victims.
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| Photo of Payton Gendron By Police |
An armed security officer who died while attempting to protect customers, a church deacon, and the mother of a former Buffalo fire commissioner were among those who perished; their ages ranged from 32 to 86.
Gendron pleaded guilty to all accusations brought against him in court, including murder, murder committed out of hatred, and domestic terrorism.
In addition, Gendron acknowledged injuring three victims of the attack, which occurred in May of this year.
The 45-minute trial took place in a courtroom in Erie County, about two miles from the shooting location, and the restrained, orange jumpsuit-clad kid displayed little emotion throughout.
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| Police at the attack site in May of this year. Pic: AP |
Gendron has been given a life sentence without the possibility of parole, meaning he will live out the remainder of his days in prison. The death penalty is not used in the state of New York.
A hearing to determine the sentence is anticipated later.
Gendron was charged with 27 federal hate crimes and firearms offenses in a separate indictment that was returned in a US District Court in July; if found guilty, he could get the death penalty.
Police were praised for arriving on the scene less than two minutes after the attack began.
According to Buffalo mayor Byron Brown, if not for their "quick response" and "courageous measures," more lives would have likely been lost.
Source: Sky News
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