Racially Motivated Mass Shooting in Buffalo, NY Kills 10

5/14/22-Written by SJ

Payton Gendron, an 18-year-old white man from Conklin, New York traveled over 200 miles on Saturday afternoon to a grocery store in a Black neighborhood in Buffalo, New York. After arriving at his destination, a trip that according to Google Maps takes around 3.5 hours, he opened fire. Dressed in tactical gear, and with the n-word painted across the barrel of his rifle, Gendron fired several times killing 10 people and injuring 3 more. 11 of Gendron’s 13 victims were Black. 

Gendron began shooting in the parking lot of Tops Friendly Market on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo. Four of his victims were shot, and three killed, before he even fully entered the store. He then proceeded to enter the store, where he shot nine more people, including several store employees. Gendron live-streamed a large portion of his attack. After he finished his racially-motivated shooting spree, he exited the store and aimed his gun at himself. 

By the time Gendron exited the store he was surrounded by police officers, who talked to him and managed to convince him to drop his weapon and kneel on the ground. He was taken into custody unharmed. 

On Saturday evening Gendron was arraigned on first-degree murder charges at Buffalo City Court, to which he plead not guilty. He is being held without bail. 

This is a hate crime. It is also the most deadly mass shooting of the year to-date.

According to federal law enforcement officials, Gendron uploaded a 180-page manifesto online where he cited racist and far-right fears, such as the “replacement theory,” which suggests the white population will be replaced by people of color. He also outlined a detailed plan for the mass shooting in his manifesto, mentioning that he intentionally chose the location of his attack because of the predominantly Black population in the area surrounding the grocery store. Gendron even mentioned he’d plead guilty if caught.  

More charges will likely follow for Gendron. 

As the story unfolds, hold major media outlets accountable. This is a hate crime. This is a terror attack. Gendron is a man, not a boy. Do not allow this to be reported as a white teenager suffering from a mental health crisis. 

On Site Public Media will continue to cover this story as it develops, including how you can support Gendron’s victims and their families, once we know more.