Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Following the sentencing of 19-year-old racist mass-murderer Payton Gendron, who shot and killed ten black people at a Tops Market last May 14th, Erie County District Attorney John Flynn and Mayor Byron Brown had a lot to say regarding the work going forward from this sentencing and more.
"Where do we go, as a community? Where do we go as a city? Where do we go in terms of the legal system and the criminal justice system, and how it affects not only particular cases, but society at large?," DA Flynn asks. "These are questions that we need to answer, that us as leaders of the criminal justice system, and the mayor, and of all levels of government need to answer."
DA Flynn mentions that the only thing the federal charges will determine is whether or not Gendron faces the death penalty.
"He is never getting out of jail. The federal prosecution is relevant, obviously, in terms of whether or not he is gonna get the death penalty. But that's the only decision that really needs to be made in this entire process."
The status conference for the federal proceedings will take place at the Robert H. Jackson Courthouse on Thursday, Feb. 16th at 11 A.M. in Buffalo.
Flynn also says that when it comes to mass shootings, sides tend to be taken, like when it comes to gun control. But regardless of those positions, everything needs to be on the table and addressed.
"The sides, whatever side you're on, tend to get out there. We need gun control. No, we don't need gun control, we need people control. No, it's not people control, we need online control. Those of you who know me, I don't like sides. I like solutions," said the DA. "Everything needs to be on the table. Yes, we have a gun problem. Yes, we have a social media problem. But we also have a people problem. That can not be discounted. People need to be held accountable for their actions."
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown once again called out for sensible gun reform and social media monitoring as a result of this massacre that occurred last year in May.
"What happened in this community certainly cries out for sensible gun reform. Why, the city of Buffalo has brought a lawsuit against ghost gun manufacturers and members of the gun industry. It cries out for mental health, treatment and resources," said the mayor. "This cries out for reigning in social media. The defense attorney said that this individual was definitely impacted, radicalized by social media, we have to reign that in. We cannot allow hate speech to proliferate on social media. Finally, white supremacy. It is a cancer. It is a horror and it is capable of motivating people to commit these kinds of crimes in our community. More has to be done to stamp out white supremacy."
Gendron not only learned his radical ideologies on the internet, but wrote his manifesto and live streamed his deadly massacre on social media platforms.
Mentioned both during and after the sentencing, both the defense attorneys and DA Flynn said that they want to make the evidence public to the families of the victims and their attorneys, per their request. However, two protective orders are in place that precludes the feds and DA Flynn from giving evidence away to the families. DA Flynn says he will work to get those lifted.
"That protective order on the state side does not automatically go away today, by operation of law, that continues on until we change it. I will be making in some form or fashion, a motion to court to get that protective order lifted, or asking it to be lifted," said DA Flynn.
"This is the end of the beginning," said Mayor Byron Brown. "There's a lot more work to be done, not just in this community, but all across America."