The white gunman who killed 10 innocent Black people in a racist mass shooting at a Buffalo supermarket back in May, has pleaded guilty to multiple state charges this Monday.
The 19-year-old pleaded guilty to all the charges in the grand jury indictment, including murder, murder as a hate crime and hate-motivated domestic terrorism — which carries an automatic sentence of life without parole. In addition to that, Gendron has also pleaded guilty to wounding three people who survived the horror attack.
As we previous reported, the mass shooting took place in the afternoon of May 14. The gunman walked into Tops Friendly Market and began firing — killing 10 and injuring three others. Investigators believe Gendron targeted the victims, ages 20-86, based on race. Eleven of the 13 people shot were Black and two were White… according to officials. Federal prosecutors argued that the alleged gunman’s motive was to “prevent Black people from replacing white people and eliminating the white race, and to inspire others to commit similar attacks,” according to a criminal complaint.
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Attorney Brian Parker said Monday that the gunman’s guilty plea “represents a condemnation of the racist ideology that fueled his horrific actions on May 14.” Parker also noted that before his client is sentenced to life without the possibility of parole on Feb. 15, the families of the victims and those injured in the shooting would have the chance to address the court, the community and the gunman directly.
Now, following his guilty plea, his attorney spoke out saying, “Today, our client pled guilty to every count of the indictment with the full knowledge that he will spend the rest of his life in prison with no chance of parole,” Brian Parker said. “Though the federal case continues his actions today ensure that there will be no state court trial and he will not appeal.”
“This critical step represents a condemnation of the racist ideology that fueled his horrific actions on May 14,” Parker added. “Before he is sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, on February 15, the surviving victims and deceased victims family members will all have an opportunity to address the court, the community and our client directly.”
“It is our hope that a final resolution of the state charges will help in some small way to keep the focus on the needs of the victims and the community, because there is still further litigation regarding these events,” Parker also said.
After the hearing, Erie County District Attorney John Flynn also said,
“Thank God the families and the victims who survived this and this community don’t have to endure a long, protracted trial. Nothing will ever bring back the 10 beautiful people who lost their lives on that day. This past Thursday on Thanksgiving, there were 10 empty chairs at the Thanksgiving dinner … I can never provide full closure. There’s never going to be full closure for the families.”
Rev. Al Sharpton, founder and president of civil rights group National Action Network shared his reaction as well: “His decision to plead guilty will deliver the families some justice, but it will not end the racism that drove him to kill in the first place,” said Rev. Al Sharpton, founder and president of civil rights group National Action Network. “That horrific day was the byproduct of a white supremacy so blatant that its followers don’t hide under a hood — they livestream their hate for everyone to see.”
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