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The community of Buffalo, New York is mourning after 13 people were shot –– 10 of whom died –– at the Tops Friendly Market over the weekend in what police are describing as a "racially motivated hate crime."
Authorities confirmed that of the 13 people who were shot, 11 of them were Black. All ten of the victims who were fatally wounded were Black, police said.
The 13 people shot in the attack range in age from 20 to 86 and have been identified as follows:
- Roberta A. Drury, 32
- Margus D. Morrison, 52
- Andre Mackneil, 53
- Aaron Salter, 55
- Geraldine Talley, 62
- Celestine Chaney, 65
- Heyward Patterson, 67
- Katherine Massey, 72
- Pearl Young, 77
- Ruth Whitfield, 86
- Zaire Goodman, 20 –– treated and released from hospital
- Jennifer Warrington, 50 –– treated and released from hospital
- Christopher Braden, 55 –– sustained non-life-threatening injuries
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown revealed additional details about the lives taken from the community in this heinous act.
Here's what we know about the victims so far.
Aaron Salter
Salter was a former Buffalo police lieutenant described as a "hero" security guard who attempted to stop the gunman. The 55-year-old worked at the supermarket for several years after retiring, Brown said.
Ruth Whitfield
Eighty-six-year-old Ruth Whitfield was identified among the victims. Whitfield is the mother of former Buffalo Fire Commissioner Garnell Whitfield. According to Mayor Brown, Ruth Whitfield had just finished visiting her husband in the nursing home, as she did everyday, and was picking up groceries.
Pearl Young
Pearl Young, 77, is remembered as a beloved long-time substitute teacher in the Buffalo community. Young was a "true pillar in the community," her family said in a statement. The 77-year-old reportedly ran a food pantry where she served those in need.
Geraldine Talley
Geraldine Talley was doing her regular grocery shopping with her fiancé when she was fatally shot, her niece Lakesha Chapman told CNN.
"She's sweet, sweet, you know, the life of the party," Chapman said. "She was the person who always put our family reunion together, she was an avid baker ... mother of two beautiful children."
"She was just a lover," Chapman added. "I mean she didn't meet a stranger, and that's why this hurts so much."
Andre Mackneil
Andre Mackneil was shopping for his three-year-old's son's birthday cake on Saturday (May 14) when he was shot and killed, his fiancée, Tracey Maciulewicz revealed Monday (May 16).
Katherine Massey
At 72 years old, Katherine Massey was a known activist who penned letters to several local publications calling for gun control legislation. Her most recent letter was published nearly a year ago in The Buffalo News, according to The New York Times.
Law enforcement identified the suspected gunman as 18-year-old Payton Gendron who also allegedly posted a white supremacist manifesto online days before the shooting. New reports indicate Gendron planned to continue his attack if he had successfully escaped the grocery store.
"This was well planned ... by a sick person," Buffalo Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia told ABC News.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a $2.8 million fund for the victims and their families via a statement from her office.
"The past 24 hours have been traumatizing for New Yorkers," Hochul said in a statement Sunday (May 15). "The entire world is watching how we will come together as New Yorkers to overcome this unthinkable tragedy."
Reading about Black trauma can have an impact on your mental health. If you or someone you know need immediate mental health help, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. These additional resources are also available:
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255
The National Alliance on Mental Illness 1-800-950-6264
The Association of Black Psychologists 1-301-449-3082
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America 1-240-485-1001
For more mental health resources, click HERE.
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