Gendron Sentenced to Life in Prison Without Parole for Racially Motivated Mass Shooting in Buffalo, NY
On Wednesday, Payton Gendron, the white gunman responsible for killing 10 Black people in a racially motivated mass shooting in Buffalo, New York, was sentenced to life in state prison without the possibility of parole.[0] Gendron, now 19, still faces 27 federal counts, including murder, discharging a firearm and hate crimes.[1] If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison or the death penalty.[1] He pleaded not guilty in July and has since expressed regret for his actions.[1]
Gendron's sentencing hearing was interrupted when a man charged at him in the courtroom, prompting court officers to restrain the individual. Kimberly Salter, the widow of security guard Aaron Salter, was one of 17 family members of his victims to give an impact statement.[2] She explained that she and her family were wearing “red for the blood that he shed for his family and for his community, and black because we are still grieving.”[2]
Gendron was heavily armed and wearing tactical gear when he carried out the May 14 attack, which was livestreamed on the social media platform Twitch.[2] He used an AR-15 rifle, which had phrases written on it, including “Here’s your reparations!,” “The Great Replacement,” racial slurs, and the names of other mass shooters.[3] Prosecutors have argued Gendron’s attack was motivated by his racism towards Black people and a desire to prevent Black people from replacing white people and eliminating the white race.[4]
Gendron pleaded guilty in November to 15 charges, including murder and attempted murder.[5] It is the first instance in state history that someone has been charged with domestic terrorism stemming from hate.[5] After a short break, Gendron returned to the courtroom and Erie County Court Judge Susan Egan restarted the hearing.[0] She told people in the room to “conduct ourselves appropriately”.[6]
Gendron was sentenced to life in prison without parole.[7] Judge Egan concluded her statement by saying “there can be no mercy for you, no understanding, no second chances.[8] The damage you have caused is too great, and the people you have hurt are too valuable to this community.[9] You will never see the light of day as a free man ever again.[5]
0. “Man rushes at Buffalo mass shooter Payton Gendron during sentencing hearing” Fox News, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.foxnews.com/us/man-rushes-buffalo-mass-shooter-payton-gendron-sentencing-hearing
1. “Buffalo grocery mass shooter gets life in prison during tense sentencing hearing for racist attack” NBC News, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/man-rushes-buffalo-grocery-mass-shooter-emotional-sentencing-hearing-r-rcna70250
2. “Man lunges at Buffalo supermarket gunman Payton Gendron during sentencing in court” WABC-TV, 15 Feb. 2023, https://abc7ny.com/payton-gendron-buffalo-shooting-tops-murder/12818409/
3. “Buffalo Shooter Who Sought to ‘Kill as Many Blacks as Possible’ Gets Life in Prison Without Parole” Rolling Stone, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/buffalo-shooter-payton-gendron-sentencing-1234680275
4. “Man rushes at Buffalo grocery store mass shooter during emotional sentencing hearing” CNN, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/15/us/buffalo-tops-grocery-shooting-payton-gendron-state-sentencing/index.html
5. “Buffalo sentencing updates: Victim's family member lunges at mass shooter” msnNOW, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/buffalo-sentencing-updates-victim-s-family-member-lunges-at-mass-shooter/ar-AA17u9YX
6. “Buffalo white supremacist gunman removed from court after man rushes at him as he’s sentenced to life” The Independent, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/buffalo-supermarket-gunman-payton-gendron-white-supremacist-b2282893.html
7. “Person lunges at Tops mass shooter, proceedings resume after delay” WIVB.com – News 4, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.wivb.com/news/person-lunges-at-tops-mass-shooter-payton-gendron-buffalo-proceedings-in-a-delay/
8. “Buffalo shooting victim's relative CHARGES at racist gunman Payton Gendron in court” Daily Mail, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11754501/Buffalo-shooting-victims-relative-CHARGES-racist-gunman-Payton-Gendron-court.html
9. “Buffalo Tops shooting update: Shooter will be sentenced in state case Wednesday” NPR, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.npr.org/2023/02/15/1156996712/buffalo-tops-shooting-new-york-sentencing
