Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Local authorities have released the identity of the 18-year-old male who shot and killed 10 people, and wounding another three people on Saturday at a Tops Friendly Market in the 1200 block of Jefferson Avenue in Downtown Buffalo.
The Erie County District Attorney's Office announced Saturday evening that Payton Gendron of Conklin, New York has been arraigned in Buffalo City Court on one count of Murder in the First Degree (Class “A-I” felony). He was remanded without bail, as a felony hearing is scheduled to take place on Thursday, May 19 at 9:30 a.m. ET.
"It carries with it a sentence of life without parole, the highest punishment we have in New York State," said District Attorney John Flynn of the suspect's charges. "He was remanded. The judge ordered a forensic examination. A felony hearing will now take place in five days, and then the investigation continues. So we have taken the appropriate steps right now to get him behind bars."
While Gendron faces one charge of Murder in the First Degree at this time, Flynn says the potential list of charges could extend much further.
"We are now investigating terrorism charges, other murder charges, along with working with our partners in the federal government so that they can, perhaps, file charges, as well," he said. "I assure everyone in this community, justice is being done right now, and justice will be done."
Gendron drove nearly three-and-a-half hours from Conklin to Buffalo, as he arrived at the Tops in Buffalo at around 2:30 p.m. ET sporting an assault rifle and tactical body armor. He started by engaging with four people in the parking lot, killing three of them, before continuing his rampage into the grocery store.
Of the 13 people shot in this incident, 11 of them were African American. According to officials, there is evidence suggesting this shooting was a racially motivated action, and authorities, including the FBI, are investigating the matter as a hate crime.
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