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Supermarket massacre probed as hate crime — Analysis

An 18-year-old attacker was detained without bail on first-degree murder charges following a mass shooting at a supermarket in New York state, that authorities described as a “hate crime”And “racially motivated violent extremism.”

The heavily-armed shooter wearing a bulletproof vest and a tactical helmet first opened fire at a parking lot and then inside a Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo around 2:30pm on Saturday, killing ten shoppers and employees, and injuring three others  –all while livestreaming the attack online.

The gunman reportedly tried to hold the gun at his neck when police arrived on the scene. However, the officer eventually convinced him to surrender and drop the weapon.

According to authorities, 11 victims were Black. Sheriff John Garcia of Erie County described the incident as “a terrorist attack.” “pure evil”You can also find out more about a “straight up racially motivated hate crime from somebody outside of our community.”

10 dead in US shooting livestreamed on Twitch

On Saturday, the suspect was identified by 18-year-old Payton Gendron of Conklin in New York. He appeared at court after his arrest. According to NY state law, he could be sentenced to life imprisonment with no parole for first-degree murder. He pleaded guilty and the next court hearing is scheduled for next Wednesday. 

Multiple federal agencies such as the FBI, ATF, and other Federal Agencies are helping local authorities investigate the incident. “both a hate crime and a case of racially motivated violent extremism,” according to Stephen Belongia, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Buffalo field office.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul called on the attacker “white supremacist who just perpetrated a hate crime on an innocent community,”Expression “sincere hope that this individual… will spend the rest of his days behind bars.”

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