The suspect allegedly entered Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo dressed in tactical gear and without any warning opened fire. At least thirteen people were shot in the incident, eleven which are black people and two are white. The shoot is said to have livestreamed the whole shooting incident on social media.
Among the thirteen people who were shot, ten were declared dead and three others were wounded and taken to hospital, New York authorities said on Saturday. Police said the 18-year-old shooter, who is now in custody, has been charged with murder in what officials call hate crime and a case of racially motivated violent extremism.
John Garcia, the Erie County Sheriff said, “this was pure evil”. He said this the crime was clearly racially motivated and committed by a person who does not even live within the community.
Joseph Gramaglia, the Buffalo Police Commissioner said the suspects was “very heavily armed” and had a tactical helmet and gear. Police said the suspect had a camera and was live streaming as he killed people.
The suspect shot four people in the parking lot, killing three before entering the store, he said. One the suspect entered the store, he was encountered by a retired Buffalo police officer who worked as a security guard. The guard shot the suspect multiple times, but he was not harmed because of the tactical gear he wore. The suspect shot and killed the guard and returned to the front store where he encountered the police, where they eventually arrested him.
Source: The South African, The Washington Post, CBS News, Al Jazeera, image from Aljazeera