An 18-year-old white man has shot dead ten people in a predominantly black neighbourhood of Buffalo, New York, in what authorities are describing as a racially motivated attack. The suspect, named in court papers as Payton Gendron, was arrested after a stand-off at a supermarket in the city.
The gunman began firing in the store's car park before entering and continuing his rampage, allegedly live-streaming the attack online. Police confirmed that three people were killed in the car park and seven inside the store, with most victims being black. The suspect is believed to have driven 200 miles to reach the area.
FBI officials said the attack was being investigated as both a hate crime and a case of racially-motivated violent extremism, citing evidence of racial animosity. Reports indicate the suspect shouted racial slurs during the shooting and had a racial slur written on his weapon. He also apparently posted a racist manifesto online.
US President Joe Biden condemned the act, calling it 'abhorrent' and stating that racially-motivated hate crimes are abhorrent to the fabric of the nation. The suspect surrendered his weapon after a tense stand-off and was charged with first degree murder. Three other people were wounded but survived.
Witnesses described scenes of horror, with one officer likening the aftermath to a horror movie. New York Governor Kathy Hochul labelled the suspect a white supremacist engaged in an act of terrorism, saying it was a military-style execution targeting people buying groceries.
