Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - United States Attorney General Merrick Garland was in Buffalo on Wednesday meeting with the family members of the 10 victims killed and three survivors of the mass shooting at the Tops Friendly Market on Jefferson Avenue.
It was just after 10:50 a.m. ET when Garland arrived at the memorial site adjacent to the Tops on Jefferson along with Western New York native and U.S. Attorney Trini Ross. The U.S. Attorney General paid his respects to the victims at the site, and was seen placing a bouquet of white flowers tied with a yellow ribbon.
Garland then spent nearly an hour meeting with the families of the victims at the Apollo Theatre just down the street from the Tops location. Following his meetings, Garland spoke at a press conference with Ross, Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Civil Rights Division, and FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate to discuss federal charges filed on Wednesday against the suspected 18-year-old gunman.
"In the days and weeks since the attack, we have all witnessed the strength of this community's bonds, its resilience and its love. I am humbled to have just felt that firsthand in my discussions with the families," said Garland during his opening remarks. "Hate-fueled acts of violence terrorize not only the individuals who were all attacked, but entire communities. Hate brings immediate devastation, and it inflicts lasting fear. At the Justice Department, we view confronting hate crimes as both our legal and our moral obligation."
Garland says he came to Buffalo on Wednesday to speak with the families, to express the Justice Department's support and its deepest sympathy for what happened. In addition, he was able to update the families and tell them exactly what the suspected shooter was being charged for in the complaint.
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The suspected shooter faces four different federal charges against him, including:
- Hate crimes resulting in death
- Hate crimes involving bodily injury and attempt to kill
- Use of a firearm to commit murder during and in relation to a crime of violence
- Use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence
18-year-old Payton Gendron pleaded not guilty to hate-motivated domestic terrorism and other charges nearly two weeks ago at the Erie County Courthouse. A prosecutor called the evidence against him overwhelming.
A lawyer entered the plea for the suspect in the first case to make use of New York's domestic terrorism hate crime law. Gendron didn't speak during the brief hearing with a heavy security presence.
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Witnesses, police and Gendron's own writings and livestreamed video have incriminated him as the gunman, who used an AR-style semi-automatic rifle May 14 to target shoppers and employees of a Tops Friendly Market. He surrendered at the crime scene after putting his rifle to his neck. Authorities said he chose the store because of its location in a predominantly Black neighborhood.
Garland also said Wednesday that ballistics evidence recovered at Tops indicated the gunman fired approximately 60 shots during the attack.
“There is overwhelming proof of the defendant’s guilt,” Assistant District Attorney John Fereleto said. “The defendant was caught at the scene of the crime with the weapon in his hands.”
Gendron has been held without bail since the shooting and is due back in court July 7.