The white gunman accused of the racist killing ten Black people inside a Buffalo supermarket has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Payton Gendron, the 19-year-old responsible for carrying out the mass shooting last May, cried as he told the court he regretted his actions during his sentencing on Wednesday, according to CNN.
Buffalo Mass Shooter Tearfully Apologizes For Racist Mass Shooting During Sentencing
“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.
Gendron admitted he “shot and killed people because they were Black,” and added that he “believed what (he) read online and acted out of hate.”
“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.”
The Shade Room previously reported that Gendron pleaded guilty in November to one count of domestic act of terrorism motivated by hate, along with ten counts of first-degree murder, three counts of attempted murder and a weapons possession charge for the mass shooting at Tops Friendly Markets back on May 14, 2022.
Man Rushes At Gendron During Sentencing In An Attempted Attack During Victim Impact Statements
As victims’ family members gave their impact statements, a man rushed at Gendron but was quickly stopped by security as Gendron was removed from the courtroom, the outlet reports.
The attempted assault on Gendron came during a victim impact statement by Barbara Mapps, the sister of Katherine Massey, a 72-year-old who was amongst those killed in the attack.
“I want personally to choke you,” Mapps said in a loud voice. “Your little punk a** decided to come here to kill Black people.”
White Supremacist Peyton Gendron was set to be sentenced to life today for killing 10 black people in a Buffalo Supermarket. The g*nman had to be removed from the courtroom during his sentencing after a man rushed at him during the victim statement portion of the proceedings. ???? pic.twitter.com/H7FovmxAXl
— CulturePlugg???? (@CulturePlugg) February 15, 2023
The man who lunged at Gendron will not be charged with a crime, CNN reports. Gendron returned to the courtroom after a short recess, whereupon Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan restarted the sentencing hearing.
“We cannot have that in the courtroom,” Eagan said. “We must conduct ourselves appropriately because we are all better than that.”
Judge Rebukes Gendron For Mass Shootings: “There Can Be No Mercy For You, No Second Chances”
The judge did not stop with just the sentencing, and excoriated Gendron for his “ignorant, hateful and evil ideologies.”
“There is no place for you or your ignorant, hateful and evil ideologies in a civilized society,” she said. “There can be no mercy for you, no understanding, no second chances. The damage you have caused is too great, and the people you have hurt are too valuable to this community. You will never see the light of day as a free man ever again.”
The Crime: How Gendron Earned His Life Sentence
On the afternoon of May 14, Gendron targeted the grocery store, which happens to be in a Black-majority neighborhood..
The teen was heavily armed and donned tactical gear, including a tactical helmet and plated armor, according to authorities.
Gendron even live-streamed the mass murder using a camera.
At the time of the shootings, he was carrying an illegally modified semi-automatic rifle.
He first shot four people outside the grocery store – three of which died from their injuries – before entering the store where he fatally shot an armed security guard and eight other victims, six of whom didn’t survive.
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Matthew McNulty