The accused of the Buffalo Tops shooting pleads guilty. Payton Gendron is charged with the lethal massacre of ten Black people at a grocery store.
The 19-year-old white is charged with shooting and murdering ten Black people and injuring three at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York in May 2022. He pleaded guilty on Monday.
He is charged by the state with one count of first-degree domestic terrorism, 10 counts of murder in the first degree, 10 counts of murder as a hate crime in the second degree, 3 counts of attempted murder as a hate crime in the second degree, and a single count of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.
Gendron reportedly pleads guilty to the 10 counts of murder in the first degree and others making a total of 15 counts. This act by him in turn dissolved the second-degree charges charged against him.
John Flynn, District Attorney of Erie County in a press meet post-hearing, said that the evidence of the defendant’s guilt is overwhelming and that this case is a poster child for swift justice.
Flynn added that Gendron could not accomplish what he wanted to and today’s community is stronger and better than it was in the earlier days. He underlined that love always conquers hate.
The sentencing of the criminal case is scheduled for the 15th of February. According to the reports that are available from the District Attorney it is to be understood that Gendron would be sentenced to a life sentence without parole by Susan Egan, the Erie County Judge.
Sentencement of life without parole is the highest sentence in New York for those who plead guilty to a domestic terrorism charge in the first degree. Gendron is also the first ever in the entire history of New York City who has been found guilty of domestic terrorism.
According to the Mayor of Buffalo, Byron Brown, it was an emotional experience to be in the courtroom witnessing the pleas. He said that it is important for the community to hear how precious lives were snatched from people for no reason other than the color of their skin.
Congress was also called by him to pass a ban on assault weapons, by noting the nationwide mass shootings since the month of May. On previous week a fire was opened at the Chesapeake Walmart and six people were murdered by the Walmart supervisor. He opened fire on his coworkers because he reportedly felt harassed by them.
The family members of the deceased spoke out to reporters post-hearing and they feel that justice has not been served yet.
Ben Crump, representing the family of the victims said that while there are a lot of other people who are plotting attacks against black people, this certain young white supremacist was the one who pulled the trigger. He added that all such people need to be held accountable in order to prevent the next mass shooting motivated by racial discrimination.
Garnell Whitfield, who is suffering from the death of his mother Ruth, said that America is losing its battle against white supremacy and he sarcastically thanked the inaction from the authorities. He added that they are begging the authorities to do something about such actions and none of the people who lost their lives deserved to die that way.
Mark Talley, the son of the deceased Geraldine Talley said that, given his circumstance, he doesn’t even care if the gunman goes to jail or not. He continued that the sentencing of this single gunman is not going to change much of the existing conditions. He concluded that the thing that can make him happy would be America acknowledging its racism and racist history.
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Gendron is also facing charges of 10 counts of death-resulting hate crimes and three counts of hate crimes involving an attempt to kill, and 13 counts of using, carrying, or discharging a firearm.
If he gets convicted of all these 27 charges at the federal level he would have to face a life sentence without parole or the death penalty. According to the Justice Department, the issue of the death penalty would be finalized by the Attorney General at a further date.
Merrick Garland, the Attorney General said that the Justice Department gives recognition to the threat imposed by white supremacists on American democracy and the safety of the people.
He added that the department will relentlessly continue their efforts in combating hate crimes and supporting the terrorized communities, and in holding accountable the perpetrators.
Payton Gendron, who was arrested on May 14, and found guilty in July by the federal grand jury has been held without bail ever since.
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