Vigil for 10 killed in New York shooting as suspect may face hate charges
Residents of Buffalo, New York, have held vigils for the 10 people killed in a supermarket shooting rampage by a gunman suspected of having a racist motive.
Payton Gendron, 18, was charged with one count of first-degree murder and held without bail, Erie County’s district attorney’s office said. He pleaded not guilty. “The evidence that we have uncovered so far makes no mistake that this is an absolute racist hate crime,” said Buffalo Police commissioner Joseph Gramaglia.
He said Mr Gendron, who is white, carried out “reconnaissance” in the predominantly black neighbourhood around the Tops Friendly Market and drove there from his home town of Conklin, more than 320 kilometres away.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the killings, his spokesman said on Sunday.
Mr Guterres was appalled by the “vile act of racist violent extremism”, Farhan Haq said.
“He extends his deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims, and hopes justice will be served swiftly.”
Many people across the US have criticised the ease with which powerful guns can be acquired and the latest eruption of racist violence.
“This individual came here with the express purpose of taking as many black lives as he possibly could,” Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Buffalo native, described the shooting as a “military-style execution” and said racist messaging was “spreading like wildfire,” especially online.
US President Joe Biden condemned “hate that remains a stain on the soul of America.”
New York Attorney General Letitia James described Saturday’s deadly attack as “domestic terrorism, plain and simple.”
“I held in my arms a young lady who worked at Tops, who was so afraid that she was about to die, who witnessed the bloodshed, who shook in my arms,” Ms James said.
“She is afraid for her community, afraid also for herself.”
Buffalo resident Denise Walden said she feared that she “can’t go to the grocery store around the corner from my house because I might not get home to my kids safe”.
Derryl Long, who was born in Buffalo, told AFP he “can’t comprehend what was going through this man’s mind”.
“He knew it was a black community,” Mr Long, 67, said. “It just hurts.”
The gunman shot four people in the supermarket’s car park, fatally injuring three, before entering the premises.
Among those killed inside was a retired police officer who worked as a security guard. He fired several times at the assailant before he was shot, police said.
Along with state charges, Saturday’s events are being investigated as a federal hate crime, said FBI special agent Stephen Belongia.