Buffalo supermarket shooting update: 'Troubled' suspect investigated for threat last year, shooter linked 'hate crime' to Waukesha massacre, 'hero' security guard died in gunfight



New developments have surfaced in the heartbreaking mass shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York. The tragic shooting at the Tops supermarket has been deemed a "racially motivated hate crime" that resulted in the deaths of 10 innocent people and wounded three others.

Buffalo supermarket shooting update

Police have named the suspect as 18-year-old Payton Gendron of Conklin, New York. He was arraigned on Saturday on one count of first-degree murder and was ordered held without bail. The suspect appeared before a judge while wearing a paper gown since he is on suicide watch. He pleaded not guilty.

If he is found guilty, the suspect faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole. Erie County District Attorney John Flynn said his office is investigating terrorism charges.

A felony hearing has been scheduled for May 19.

Suspect was investigated by State Police for a high school threat in 2021

The suspect previously threatened to shoot up his high school in June 2021, a law enforcement official told the Associated Press.

"A school official reported that this very troubled young man had made statements indicating that he wanted to do a shooting, either at a graduation ceremony, or sometime after," the same government official familiar with the case told the Buffalo News.

"FBI officials confirmed the shooter allegedly wanted to commit a murder/suicide at the graduation of his high school in 2021 and was taken into custody by the New York State Police and given a mental evaluation," ABC News reported.

Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia confirmed that the then-17-year-old was given a mental health evaluation after the violent threat.

"Federal law bars people from owning a gun if a judge has determined they have a 'mental defect' or they have been forced into a mental institution — but an evaluation alone would not trigger the prohibition," ABC News reported.

No criminal charges were levied against the teenager.

Firearms used in the shooting were purchased legally

The suspect legally purchased a semi-automatic Bushmaster XM-15 rifle a couple of months ago from the Vintage Firearms shop in Endicott, New York, ABC News reported. The suspect allegedly purchased another gun at a Pennsylvania gun shop and was given another by his father.

Sources told the outlet that there was a pistol and a shotgun in the suspect's car.

The Daily Beast reported that the rifle had a racial slur written on it, a white supremacist symbol, and the name of Virginia Sorenson – a victim of the Waukesha Christmas parade massacre.

Suspect may have had manifesto, 'planned the attack for months'

Authorities have yet to authenticate a 180-page manifesto said to have been written by the suspect. The purported manifesto contained anti-Semitic tropes claiming that the New York Times, CNN, and Fox News are run by Jews. The alleged manifesto also focused on "replacement theory," a white supremacist doctrine that non-whites will eventually replace white people.

A law enforcement official told the Associated Press that the suspect repeatedly visited websites that promulgated white supremacist ideologies and race-based conspiracy theories. The alleged shooter reportedly praised South Carolina church shooter Dylann Roof and New Zealand mosque shooter Brenton Tarrant online.

The Daily Mail reported that the teenager "planned the attack for months before he drove for three hours to carry out the vile ambush that authorities are calling an act of 'violent extremism' motivated by race."

The suspect – who is white – allegedly targeted that specific Tops Friendly Market because the neighborhood is predominantly black. All 10 of the people who were killed were black.

Erie County Sheriff John Garcia told reporters on Saturday, "This was pure evil. It was a straight-up racially motivated hate crime from somebody outside of our community ... coming into our community and trying to inflict evil upon us."

The FBI is investigating the attack as a hate crime and as a "racially motivated violent extremism" case.

New York State Police's Hate Crimes Task Force has joined the investigation.

'Hero' security guard did everything he could to stop the shooter

The shooter was dressed in tactical gear, including a helmet with a camera attached that he allegedly used to livestream the carnage to Twitch – a video game streaming platform. Twitch reportedly removed the graphic content within two minutes.

The gunman fired at least 50 shots during the rampage, according to Gramaglia.

The gunman shot four people in the supermarket's parking lot – three of which died.

The shooter entered Tops supermarket and was confronted by a security guard Aaron Salter Jr. The two exchanged gunfire, but the shooter's body armor protected him. The suspect allegedly shot and killed Salter a retired police officer.

Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said of Salter, "He's a true hero. He went down fighting. He went towards the gunfire."

Yvette Mack, a frequent shopper at Tops, said of Salter, "He cared about the community. He looked after the store. He did a good job you know. He was very nice and respectable."

This is Aaron Salter Jr.\n\nBy now, you've likely heard his story... but it's one that needs to be shared again and again.\n\nThe 55 yr old was the security guard, the hero, who fired at the suspect \u2014 trying to stop the monster.\n\nRest In Peace, Hero, Mr. Salter. pic.twitter.com/eVJP7oOyOV
— Mel Orlins (@Mel Orlins) 1652631943

Other victims of the mass shooting include Ruth Whitfield, 86, Pearly Young, 77, Katherine Massey, 73, Deacon Heyward Patterson, 68, Celestine Chaney, and Roberta Drury, 32.

This morning, we're focusing on the victims.\n\nThis is Ruth Whitfield.\n\nShe was 86 and was the mother of former Buffalo Fire Commissioner Garnell Whitfield.pic.twitter.com/kaV1r7xPtx
— Mel Orlins (@Mel Orlins) 1652609601
This is Pearly Young.\n\nShe was 77 and a member of Good Samaritan COGIC for over 50 years.\n\nShe was killed by the monster who entered Tops and took her life.\n\nEverybody loved Pearly, including her nephew who tells me he has \u2018stories of Pearly\u2019 for days.\n\nRest In Peace, Pearly pic.twitter.com/BmHH5a8CUX
— Mel Orlins (@Mel Orlins) 1652641460
Read more about Kat Massey, a fierce advocate and loving sister and friend. Kat was killed yesterday in #Buffalo. Although her voice - a powerful one she used to champion for her community - was silenced, her memory will never be forgotten. @TheBuffaloNewshttps://buffalonews.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/katherine-kat-massey-we-lost-a-powerful-voice/article_dba74fde-d472-11ec-b4dd-2316614c1f56.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=user-share\u00a0\u2026
— p - Dr. Jaclyn Schildkraut (@p - Dr. Jaclyn Schildkraut) 1652648530
This is Celestine Chaney.\n\nHere she is with her son, Wayne.\n\nWe\u2019re working to learn more about Celestine\u2019s life and the type of person she was.\n\nI\u2019m told her granddaughter is on her way to Buffalo to be with her family.\n\nRest In Peace, sweet Celestine. pic.twitter.com/Tz2UwtZQMQ
— Mel Orlins (@Mel Orlins) 1652637242
This is Roberta Drury.\n\nShe was 32-years-old.\n\nLook at that beautiful smile.\n\nShe lost her life yesterday afternoon in the shooting.\n\nRest In Peace, Roberta \n\n@news4buffalopic.twitter.com/y7B04UQgXe
— Mel Orlins (@Mel Orlins) 1652624299


At least 10 killed in mass shooting at Buffalo supermarket. Officials say gunman may have livestreamed the shooting.



At least ten people are dead after a shooting rampage at a supermarket in Buffalo on Saturday afternoon. There were also three people wounded – two of which are in critical condition, according to the Buffalo News. One of the people killed was reportedly a recently retired Buffalo Police Department officer who was working security at the store.

According to law enforcement and witnesses, the gunman shot and killed his victims at the Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo. The shooter allegedly opened fire with a rifle in the parking lot and then entered the supermarket and sprayed bullets into the store with shoppers and employees around 2:30 p.m.

The Associated Press reported, "Investigators believe the man may have been livestreaming the shooting and were looking into whether he had posted a manifesto online, the official said."

The official also told the AP that law enforcement was investigating the possibility that the mass shooting was "racially motivated." However, the official cautioned that the investigation was in its "preliminary stages" and that authorities had yet to determine a motive.

Police say that the shooting suspect – who has yet to be identified – has been taken into custody.

BREAKING: BPD on scene of a mass shooting at the Tops in the 1200 block of Jefferson Avenue. Police say multiple people have been struck by gunfire. The shooter is in custody. Motorists and residents are urged to avoid the area.
— Buffalo Police Dept (@Buffalo Police Dept) 1652556412

According to the AP, "Witnesses reported the gunman was wearing military-style clothing and body armor, one of the officials said."

The Buffalo News also reported that the suspect was wearing body armor.

Witness Braedyn Kephart described the suspect as a white male in his late teens or early 20s, who was wearing full camo and a black helmet.

Kephart told the Associated Press, “He was standing there with the gun to his chin. We were like, 'What the heck is going on? Why does this kid have a gun to his face?'"

The gunman allegedly dropped to his knees then "ripped off his helmet, dropped his gun, and was tackled by the police," Kephart said.

At least two rifles have been recovered from the crime scene, law enforcement sources told NBC News.

A Buffalo Police official said, "It’s like walking onto a horror movie, but everything is real. It is Armageddon-like. It is so overwhelming."

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul wrote on Twitter: "I am closely monitoring the shooting at a grocery store in Buffalo. We have offered assistance to local officials. If you are in Buffalo, please avoid the area and follow guidance from law enforcement and local officials."

I am closely monitoring the shooting at a grocery store in Buffalo. We have offered assistance to local officials. If you are in Buffalo, please avoid the area and follow guidance from law enforcement and local officials.
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@Governor Kathy Hochul) 1652556279

More details on the Buffalo supermarket shooting can be seen in the video below.

Buffalo shooting: 'Multiple people' shot at Tops grocery store, suspect in custody www.youtube.com

Eyewitness describes Buffalo supermarket shooting www.youtube.com