White Supremacist Who Killed 10 Black People in Buffalo Supermarket Faces Death Penalty, Prosecutors Say

Buffalo, New York – Federal prosecutors announced on Friday their intention to seek the death penalty for a white supremacist who killed 10 Black people in a mass shooting at a Buffalo supermarket. Payton Gendron, 20, is already serving a life sentence with no possibility of parole after pleading guilty to state charges of murder and hate-motivated domestic terrorism in the 2022 attack.

In a court filing, the Justice Department stated that “the United States believes the circumstances…are such that, in the event of a conviction, a sentence of death is justified.” While New York does not have the death penalty, federal prosecutors had the option to pursue it in a separate hate crimes case.

The decision to seek the death penalty was based on the substantial planning involved in the shooting, including the deliberate choice of location – a Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo’s predominantly Black East Side neighborhood. Trini Ross, the U.S. attorney for western New York, stated that the location was selected to “maximize the number of Black victims.”

Family members of the victims have expressed mixed opinions on whether the death penalty should be pursued. Mark Talley, whose mother was killed in the attack, said he would have preferred the gunman to spend the rest of his life in prison. Pamela Pritchett, whose mother was also killed, described the mood as somber and spoke of the lasting scars the community will bear.

The gunman attacked shoppers and workers at the supermarket with a semi-automatic rifle, livestreaming the massacre from a camera attached to his tactical helmet. The victims, aged 32 to 86, included customers, a store security guard, and a church deacon. Three others were wounded but survived.

The rifle used in the attack was marked with racial slurs and phrases, including “The Great Replacement,” referencing a conspiracy theory that seeks to diminish the influence of White people. The Justice Department’s decision to pursue the death penalty comes as a rare occurrence under the Biden administration, which generally opposes capital punishment.

Attorney General Merrick Garland instituted a moratorium on federal executions in 2021, pending a review of procedures. Although the moratorium does not prevent prosecutors from seeking death sentences, the Justice Department has exercised this option sparingly. This marks the first time Garland has authorized a new pursuit of the death penalty.

In conclusion, federal prosecutors will seek the death penalty for Payton Gendron, the white supremacist responsible for the mass shooting at a Buffalo supermarket. The decision is based on the significant planning involved and the choice of location aimed at targeting Black victims. Family members of the victims have expressed mixed feelings, with some preferring a life sentence. This decision stands out due to the rarity of pursuing the death penalty under the current administration.