A brave security guard. Survivor of breast cancer. The church deacon drove the locals to and fro the supermarket. The community advocate, who told the newspaper that stronger gun control was needed. They were killed along with 10 others in Saturday’s racist attack on Buffalo by a 18-year old white man who opened fire in a Black supermarket.
According to Buffalo Police Department, the gunman killed 11 Black and two White people. He also live-streamed the attack against Twitch. According to the Buffalo Police Department, a manifesto that he posted to social media prior to the shooting contained anti-immigrant views. It also included a conspiracy theory by white supremacists claiming the existence of an effort to replace white Americans in America with people of color.
The injuries sustained by three victims were not life-threatening and they survived: Zaire Goodman (20), Jennifer Warrington (50), Christopher Braden (55).
These were the lost lives:
Aaron Salter
Salter (55) was the Tops Friendly Market security officer where the attack happened. He was a former officer in the Buffalo Police Department and was praised by city officials for his brave actions. Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia described him as a “hero in our eyes.”
As the gunman opened fire, Salter confronted Gendron and fired back; at least one of the bullets hit and was stopped by the shooter’s armor-plated vest, The Buffalo News reported.
Salter, a Lockport, New York native, was also a father, a bass player, a former substitute teacher, and an amateur scientist passionate about creating the world’s first car engine powered by water, according to the Buffalo News.
Celestine Chaney
Chaney (65), a survivor of breast cancer, was an active member at the church, grandmother, and loved to play bingo, go shopping and the outdoors. Buffalo News reported.
One of her granddaughters, Dominique Brown, called her a “little lady full of spunk,” according to the newspaper. “”She was probably the sweetest person you could meet,” Brown said. “Very loving, very giving, very kind.”
Deacon Heyward Patterson
Patterson, 67 years old, drove people to the grocery store frequently, Buffalo NBC affiliate WGRZ reported.
It Buffalo NewsPatterson was described as a frequent visitor to the State Tabernacle Christian Church of God, where he always welcomed people in. Patterson was an active volunteer for the soup kitchen as well as cleaning the church.
“He would give the shirt off his back,” Tirzah Patterson, Patterson’s former wife, told the newspaper. “That’s who he is. He wouldn’t hurt anybody. Whatever he had, he’d give it to you. You ask, he’ll give it. If he don’t got it, he’ll make a way to get it or send you to the person that can give it to you. He’s going to be missed a lot.”
Geraldine Talley
Talley, 62, arrived at the supermarket with her fiancée. ABC News reports that he survived by wandering down an additional aisle.
Kaye Chapman-Johnson, Talley’s sister, told the network she was devastated. “Our sister, we had so many plans together, so many plans, and everything has just been stripped away from us,” she said. “Our lives will definitely never be the same again.”
Margus D.
Morrison, 52 was originally from Buffalo, and was father to three, according 7-News (local ABC affiliate).
Andre Mackneil
Mackneil (sometimes spelled Mackniel by some reports) is a native 53-year old Auburn native. On Saturday, Mackneil went to the supermarket in search of a birthday cake. Post reported.
Katherine Massey
Massey was 72 years old when he wrote a petition calling for tighter gun control, federal oversight, and publication in the Buffalo News. “Current pursued remedies mainly inspired by mass killings – namely, universal background checks and banning assault weapons – essentially exclude the sources of our city’s gun problems,” she wrote. “Illegal handguns, via out of state gun trafficking, are the primary culprits.”
Massey was raised in a tight-knit household and participated as a member of the community at local elections and schools. Washington Post reported. “She was the most wonderful person in the world. She’d cut grass in the local park, do the trees, give kids on the street toys. That was my sister, anyone she could help,” Barbara Massey, her sister, told the paper.
Pearl Young
According to Post, Young (77) loved the church. She was an avid volunteer at its soup kitchen, where she prepared and distributed food. “My mom just felt that she needed to give back to people,” Damon Young, her son, told the Post.
She is best known for her baking of cookies and cakes, as well as large quantities of vegetable soup. Buffalo News reported. Young taught Sunday school, led youth groups and was a substitute teacher.
Roberta A. Drury
Drury (32 years old) was there for her family whenever they needed her. After her brother was diagnosed with leukemia in his older brother, she moved to Buffalo. She took care of him and his family. Washington Post reported.
“She dropped everything to move out there and play house aunt,” Amanda Drury, their sister, told the paper.
Ruth Whitfield
According to Buffalo News Whitfield was the mother of four according to the Buffalo News.
Garnell W. Whitfield (retired Buffalo Fire Commissioner) told her that his mom would take his brother and him to football practice every day and cared very much for their father. “My mom was the consummate mom. My mother was a mother to the motherless,” he said. “She was a blessing to all of us. She loved God and taught us to do the same thing.”
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