Shooter Behind Racist Attack At US Supermarket Gets Life In Prison, Apologises

Payton Gendron, who killed 10 black people last year in a racist attack at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York apologised to the victims' families and was sentenced to life in prison.

New Delhi: The 19-year-old gunman, who killed 10 black people last year in a racist attack at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York apologised to the victims' families during a court hearing on Wednesday, as reported by the news agency Reuters. He was sentenced to life in prison during the court hearing.

Payton Gendron, a white man pleaded guilty last year in November to one count of a domestic act of terrorism motivated by hate, 10 counts of first-degree murder, three counts of attempted murder, and a weapons possession charge for the mass shooting at Tops Friendly Markets on May 14, 2022, as reported by CNN.  

“I’m very sorry for all the pain I forced the victims and their families to suffer through. I’m very sorry for stealing the lives of your loved ones. I cannot express how much I regret all the decisions I made leading up to my actions on May 14,” Payton Gendron, wearing an orange jumpsuit and shackles, said in court, as quoted by CNN.

“I did a terrible thing that day. I shot and killed people because they were Black. Looking back now, I can’t believe I actually did it. I believed what I read online and acted out of hate. I know I can’t take it back, but I wish I could, and I don’t want anyone to be inspired by me and what I did,” he further said.

Gendron was seen crying during the testimony from the victims’ families. The family members of the victims got emotional while speaking about the mass shooting. They told how the shooting had changed their lives. According to Reuters, a man in the courtroom jumped at Gendron. Thirteen relatives of victims spoke during the hearing including Simone Crawley, who called him a "cowardly racist."

Gendron regretted his actions and hope that his crime will not inspire copycat attacks, Reuters reported. The ages of the family members of the victims ranged from 20 to 86.

Last year in May, Gendron turned the grocery store in Buffalo, New York into a crime scene. He was armed and wore tactical gear – including a tactical helmet and plated armor, police said at the time, as reported by CNN.  The gunman shot four people outside the grocery store – three of whom died. He continued the massacre inside the store, fatally shooting an armed security guard and eight others, six of whom didn’t survive.

All the victims killed were Black. According to the authorities, Gendron shot a total of 13 people, including 11 Black people and two White people.