Ten individuals have been killed and three wounded in a mass shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, on Saturday afternoon that legislation enforcement described as a racially motivated hate crime.
The suspect, an 18-year-old white man wearing tactical gear was taken into custody after shooting 13 individuals on the Tops Friendly Market supermarket within the metropolis’s Black neighborhood, Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said.
Officials said he streamed the assault on a social media platform. Another sufferer was said to be in vital situation, in line with legislation enforcement sources.
The man was live-streaming the shooting, Gramaglia said.
“This is pure evil,” Erie County Sheriff John Garcia said at a press convention, ” … straight-up, racially motivated hate crime.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo space said the case could be investigated as a hate crime and a tragedy of “racially motivated violent extremism.”
The suspect can be arraigned on a cost of first diploma homicide, native officials said.
“This is the worst nightmare that any community can face,” Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said.
Brown said the suspect “is not from this area and is from hours away and drove to Buffalo” to commit the crime.
He said he had helped convey the Tops Friendly Market on Jefferson Avenue to the Black neighborhood and that many individuals he knew, in addition to his family, patronized the shop.
A closely armed man sporting tactical gear went to the shop about 2:30 p.m., Gramaglia said.
He opened hearth within the parking zone, shooting 4 individuals, earlier than coming into and persevering with to open hearth, he said.
A safety guard returned hearth however as a result of the suspect had on ballistic safety, the rounds did not seem to penetrate, and the previous officer was fatally shot, Gramaglia said.
Responding Buffalo officers engaged the suspect within the retailer’s vestibule, the place the person surrendered, the commissioner said.
Three of these within the parking zone have been among the many lifeless, he said.
At least two rifles have been recovered from the scene, in line with legislation enforcement sources. Officials on the press convention said the shooter used a semiautomatic rifle.
Details about why they consider the person was motivated by racial hatred weren’t revealed.
Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism said it was the worst hate-based mass shooting the nation for the reason that mass shooting in El Paso in 2019.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she was “closely monitoring” the shooting and provided help to native officials.
Tops Friendly Markets spokeswoman Kathleen A. Sautter said in an announcement, “We are shocked and deeply saddened by this senseless act of violence and our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.”
“Our top priority remains the health and well-being of our associates and customers,” she said. “We appreciate the quick response of local law enforcement and are providing all available resources to assist authorities in the ongoing investigation.”
This is a growing story. Check again for updates.
