Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Erie County District Attorney John Flynn was invited to speak to the International Association of Prosecutors General Meeting in London, England to discuss how he handled prosecution of the Tops mass shooting on May 14, 2022.
Flynn says his presentation was more than just about prosecuting the shooter, Payton Gendron.
In his presentation, "Buffalo Strong: The Role of the Prosecutor After a Racially Motivated Mass Shooting," Flynn explains the investigation and prosecution of the gunman responsible for the Tops shooting on Jefferson Avenue in East Buffalo that killed 10 Black people and wounded three others.
"I think that what I tell people is worthwhile, not just in the States, but all across the world, because, unfortunately, we've seen mass shootings all over the place," said Flynn in an interview with WBEN.
The Erie County DA submitted an application to the IAP, and it ended up being accepted.
"It is my great honor to be invited, to meet with members of IAP from around the globe about this important issue, and speak about my experiences after the City of Buffalo experienced a hate-motivated attack," Flynn said. "Unfortunately, mass casualty incidents have become increasingly more frequent in the United States and worldwide. While we hope and pray that these tragedies never occur, it is important that prosecutors be the best prepared to support the victims, witnesses and community while bringing swift justice and upholding the rule of law, fairness, impartiality."
Flynn says his presentation is two-fold. First, he addresses the handling and the prosecution of the case.
"They can have some training points on how to handle the crime scene, how to handle what occurs when you have 10 victims and the cooperation with various other law enforcement agencies," explained Flynn, which he says is vital in such an investigation.
In addition, the presentation outlines how the Erie County District Attorney's Office, along with numerous partner organizations, provided support to the families of the deceased, surviving victims, witnesses and community impacted by the tragedy.
"That Tops supermarket wasn't just food for the community. People went there to pay their gas bill, their electric bill, their cable bill, there was a bank in there, they wanted them to get their prescriptions filled," Flynn said.
As that store was closed for the investigation, Flynn's office teamed up with the FBI and other agencies to set up a resource center.
"We set up shop on East Ferry, where people could come in and go to the bank ,and pay their electric bill and get food," Flynn said.
The International Association of Prosecutors, established in 1995, is a worldwide community of prosecutors committed to setting and raising standards of professional conduct and ethics, promoting the rule of law, and improving international cooperation to combat crime. IAP provides training, networking and the exchange of knowledge and expertise to its members, which consists of organizations and individuals who represent more than 177 different countries.
Flynn made his presentation Monday in London.
