Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The man accused of killing 10 people and wounding three others in a mass shooting at the Tops Friendly Market on Jefferson Avenue back on May 14 is expected to plead guilty to state charges on Monday.
Payton Gendron is expected to plead guilty to all 25 state charges he faces, including 10 counts of first degree murder, 10 counts of second degree murder as a hate crime, a charge of committing a domestic act of terrorism motivated by hate, three counts of second degree attempted murder as a hate crime, and second degree criminal possession of a weapon.
WBEN confirmed the news that was first reported by The Buffalo News on Thursday.
"We were approached by the defense counsel in the state and the federal proceeding to advise us that the shooter was contemplating a guilty plea to all charges in the indictment, and they wanted us to know so that we can notify the families so there wouldn't be any surprises," said Attorney Terry Connors, who represents nine of the families directly impacted by the shooting.
Connors says the matter was to remain confidential until it hit the court docket, which took place on Thursday morning.
"We expect that on Monday afternoon, the shooter will go in, plead guilty to every single count in the state indictment and receive, at some point down the road, a sentence of life in prison without parole."
According to Connors, he believes Gendron is pleading guilty, partly, in the hopes that it would persuade federal prosecutors to not pursue the death penalty.
"I assume that one of the reasons for entering a plea of guilty to each count of the indictment in the state prosecution is that it will demonstrate that he accepted some responsibility," he said.
Meanwhile, both New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown believe that the families directly affected by the Tops mass shooting deserve justice upon hearing of the suspected shooter's intentions in court on Monday.
"The pain is still raw," said Gov. Hochul during a visit to Buffalo on Thursday. "We just observed the six-month anniversary a couple of days ago when I was here. It's going to be hard for the families as the court proceedings continue and they have to re-live the horror they went through because of the loss of their loved one, but the system needs to work and those families deserve justice."
"The families need justice, the families have demanded justice," said Mayor Brown in conjunction with the Governor. "It is going to be difficult for the families, it will open up that wound again. But I think it's good that this individual is pleading guilty."
As for Connors, he says the group of families he represents is a remarkable one.
"Their focus isn't on the shooter and the horrible racist conduct of the shooter. The focus is on trying to turn this terrible tragedy into something positive for our community," he said. "They're volunteering, they're doing things in East Buffalo that have never been attempted before, they're speaking everywhere and speaking out about racism and hate, and they're attending conferences. I'm totally impressed with them. It's just an incredible group of people. I'm really privileged to represent them."
