USA

Buffalo Black Killer Gets Federal Indictment

FILE - A group prays at the site of a memorial for the victims of the Buffalo, New York white racist shootings outside the Tops Friendly Market on 5.21.2022

A federal grand jury on Thursday charged a white man accused in the fatal shooting of 10 Black people at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, with 27 counts of hate crimes and firearms violations, the U.S. Justice Department announced.

The federal indictment handed down on Thursday charged self-proclaimed white racist Payton Gendron, 19, on 14 hate crimes violations and 13 firearms offenses.

He also faces 10 counts of first-degree murder and 10 counts of second-degree murder in state court.

Authorities said he targeted the store because it was a hub in the predominantly Black tight-knit neighborhood.

The indictment came less than an hour before community members planned to gather at the Tops Friendly Markets store - the site of the shooting - for a moment of silence and prayer to commemorate the two-month anniversary of the May 14 attack.

The store, which has since been fully renovated, is set to reopen on Friday.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said the Tops store reopening was a step forward in the community's efforts to heal.

"It is important to move forward as a united and strong community. We will not let hate win," he said.

Authorities say Gendron deliberately chose a place in a highly Black community in order to create as many Black casualties as possible.

His indictment on U.S. federal hate crimes charges was expected.