New Charges For Mass Shooter – Case Takes A Turn
(UnitedVoice.com) – On May 14, 18-year-old Payton Gendron allegedly drove to Buffalo, New York, with an AR-15-style rifle and shot 13 people, 10 fatally, at a Tops supermarket. He surrendered the same day, and police took him into custody, where he initially faced a first-degree murder charge. Now, prosecutors are indicting him on a domestic terrorism charge, motivated by hate because 12 of the 13 people he shot were Black.
On Wednesday, June 1, a grand jury indicted Gendron on 25 counts, a notable increase from the initial charges. The Domestic Acts of Terrorism Motivated by Hate in the First Degree charge comes with a mandatory life sentence without the chance for parole if he’s found guilty.
The white gunman who killed 10 Black people at a Buffalo supermarket pleaded not guilty Thursday to hate-motivated domestic terrorism and other charges. A prosecutor called the evidence against him overwhelming. https://t.co/39AJd8BGXA
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) June 2, 2022
There’s currently a federal investigation into Gendron’s crimes to pursue prosecution for hate crimes and determine whether it’s a case of racially-motivated violent extremism. He allegedly outlined his plans in a manifesto he posted online. Prosecutors have said the evidence against him is overwhelming, in part because he streamed the killings.
In addition to the terrorism charges, Gendron also faces multiple murder and attempted murder counts and others for using a weapon while committing a felony. His attorney, Brian Parker, has not commented on the indictment, saying the judge has barred the lawyers on both sides from publicly discussing the case.
Gendron attended his arraignment on Thursday, June 2, where he pleaded not guilty to the 25 new counts levied against him. He previously pleaded not guilty to the singular first-degree murder charge as well. He will return to court on July 7.
Copyright 2022, UnitedVoice.com
