Buffalo N.Y. (WBEN) - An update was given Sunday afternoon on the horrific, racially-motivated mass shooting that occurred Saturday. Local business are reaching out and donating money to provide the families of the thirteen victims emotional guidance for their grief as well as covering the costs for the funerals.
According to Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, Scott Bieler and the West Herr Automotive Group has pledged $300,000 for grief counseling for the families of the victims. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz has also made available grief counseling for the public at the Johnnie B. Wiley Sports Pavilion on Jefferson Avenue. This counseling will be made available until 9 p.m. on June 15th and the following day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Crisis services is also available at (716) 831-3434, "We as a community will rise again stronger than before," said Mayor Brown.
Zephyr and CrossCounty Mortgage have pledged $50,000 in efforts to aid in the funeral costs for the families of the victims. New York Governor Kathy Hochul says that Reverend Al Sharpton, Head of the National Action Network has reached out and would also like to cover the costs of the funerals, "Our Offices of Victim services have identified $2 million dollars that'll go directly to support these families and whatever they need." New York State also has has a separate fund for those who are effected by gun violence.
In addition Kathy Hochul says ride-sharing apps Uber and Lyft are offering transportation to the Buffalo community for trips to the grocery stores, "We have a food desert. A lot of people in this neighborhood, they walk to the grocery store and they don't have transportation.
"This is going to be a very lengthy investigation," said Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia, "There are warrants that have been obtained, there are warrants that will continue to be obtained both on the state and the federal levels. We'll be looking at extensive digital platforms, computers, phones, cameras and anything else that that comes into play in this investigation. The crime scene is still being held and it will be held for as long as we need it. The FBI is bringing in specialized equipment to help process that scene. This is a very significant, coordinated and collaborative effort with the State Police, the FBI, the Sheriff's Department and everybody else involved in this process."
"We'll continue to fight hate on a daily basis," said Commissioner Gramaglia.
Erie County Sheriff John Garcia added that the suspect, Payton Gendron, 18 is on Suicide Watch, "Because of his actions yesterday taking the assault rifle and putting on their his chin, he's on suicide watch. So he's on direct observation from our deputies video surveillance, and he is in a unit which is separated from all other incarcerated individuals."
"Anyone else who dare break the security that every citizen is entitled to, to make them feel victimized, you just picked a fight with 20 million New Yorkers," said Governor Kathy Hochul. "We will continue to stand up because an attack on one is an attack on all and this was white supremacy terrorism, it's racism, it's hatred and it stops right here in Buffalo."
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