BUFFALO, N.Y. – Families of the victims from a 2022 mass shooting at a Buffalo, New York, supermarket will meet with officials from the Justice Department ahead of a scheduled status hearing, according to an attorney representing the families.
The shooting, which took place on May 14, 2022, resulted in the deaths of 10 people and was determined to be racially motivated. The families will receive an important announcement from the Justice Department at a meeting in Buffalo, prior to the scheduled status hearing later in the day.
The gunman, 18-year-old Payton Gendron, used an illegally modified semi-automatic rifle to carry out the attack, which he live-streamed. The victims included customers, employees, and an armed security guard, with the majority being Black individuals. Gendron pleaded guilty to domestic act of terrorism motivated by hate, first-degree murder, attempted murder, and weapons possession charges, and has since been sentenced to life in prison.
In addition to state charges, Gendron also faces federal charges including hate crimes resulting in death and the use of a firearm to commit murder. The possibility of the death penalty in the federal case has delayed the start of the trial, as officials deliberate on the matter.
The families of the victims from the Buffalo shooting will be receiving critical updates from the Justice Department, as they continue to seek justice for their loved ones. The case serves as a tragic reminder of the devastating impact of hate-motivated violence, and the lengthy legal process that follows in pursuit of accountability and closure for the affected families.