BUFFALO, New York — The families of the victims of a racially motivated mass shooting at a Buffalo supermarket are set to receive an important update on the legal case against the gunman, according to their attorney. Payton Gendron, who is charged with hate crimes and weapons charges, has a hearing scheduled with Department of Justice representatives to discuss the case.
Gendron, 20, is accused of killing 10 Black people and injuring three others in the May 2022 attack. The victims, whose ages ranged from 32 to 86, included a church deacon, the grocery store’s guard, and a grandmother of nine. The gunman wore bullet-resistant armor and a helmet equipped with a livestreaming camera during the attack, using a modified semiautomatic rifle with illegal high-capacity ammunition magazines.
A key decision awaiting the families is whether prosecutors will seek the death penalty against Gendron. While he is already serving multiple life sentences with no chance of parole for state charges, Gendron’s lawyers have stated that he would plead guilty in the federal case if the death penalty is not pursued. The Justice Department’s capital case committee issued its recommendation in the fall of 2023, but the decision has not been made public.
Attorneys for Gendron and his parents did not respond to requests for comment, and neither did the U.S. Attorney’s office in Buffalo. Despite the tragedy and the legal proceedings, the families of the victims continue to seek justice and closure in the wake of the devastating attack.
In summary, the families of the victims of the Buffalo supermarket shooting are awaiting updates on the legal case against the gunman. Payton Gendron, who is charged with hate crimes and weapons charges, has a hearing scheduled with Department of Justice representatives. The families are hoping for clarity on whether prosecutors will seek the death penalty against Gendron, who is already serving multiple life sentences with no chance of parole for state charges. The Justice Department’s capital case committee issued its recommendation in the fall of 2023, but the decision has not been made public.