Buffalo supermarket attacker sentenced to life in prison

The gunman who killed 10 people in a Buffalo supermarket in May has been sentenced to life in prison without parole.

In November, the attacker pleaded guilty to state murder and domestic terrorism charges.

Payton Gendron, 19, planned the attack for months and travelled hundreds of miles from his home in Conklin, NY, to the Tops Friendly Markets grocery store in a predominantly Black neighbourhood of Buffalo, and he carried out the attack, which he live-streamed on social media. All of the victims were Black.

Gendron's online writings contained white-supremacist conspiracy theories, racist memes and antisemitic rants. He also mentioned the "Great Replacement" theory. Gendron said he was inspired by the New Zealand mosque attacker, Brenton Tarrant, who also shared a racist ideology.

Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan said: “There is no place for you and your ignorant, hateful ideology. 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.”

Gendron also faces federal hate-crime and firearm charges, the Justice Department is deliberating the death penalty for these charges.

Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons