Buffalo shooting accused faces hate crimes charges
The US Justice Department on Wednesday filed federal hate crime charges against an 18-year-old white supremacist accused of killing 10 Black people at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, last month. Payton Gendron faces 26 counts of hate crimes and firearms offenses, according to a criminal complaint. "We fully recognize the threat that hatred and violent extremism pose to the safety of the American people and American democracy," said Attorney General Merrick Garland, who traveled to the site of the May 14 mass shooting on Wednesday and met victims' families. "We will be relentless in our efforts to combat hate crimes." Gendron could potentially face the death penalty if found guilty, Garland said. The attorney general declined to say whether capital punishment would be sought. He said the Justice Department will follow the proper legal process and consult with the survivors and victim's families before making a determination. Gendron has already pleaded not guilty to 25 state criminal charges, including first- and second-degree murder and domestic terrorism motivated by hate. New York's domestic terrorism hate crime charge alone carries a penalty of life imprisonment without parole on conviction. Gendron is accused of killing 10 people and wounded three at the Tops Friendly Markets in a predominantly Black neighborhood in Buffalo before surrendering to police. The 18-year-old – who broadcast the attack in real time on Twitch before being cut off by the livestreaming service – apparently posted a white supremacist rant and a lengthy checklist and account of his preparations online before the rampage. In his lengthy post, he indicated he had been inspired by previous racially motivated mass killings. In a sworn statement, an FBI agent said Gendron's motive for the shooting was "to prevent Black people from replacing white people and eliminating the white race, and to inspire others to commit similar acts." (Reuters)