Buffalo shooting: Social media posts reveal suspected mass shooter spent months planning racist attack

Investigators work the scene of a shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo on Monday, May 16, 2022.

The suspect shared his messages on Discord, and later on 4chan. He stated that he had visited Tops Friendly Markets three more times in March to inspect the layout. Also, he was there at specific times when customers were most active. According to the posts, he had planned for his attack in March, but it was delayed several times.

Authorities say that 11 of 13 victims were Black. According to authorities, the gunman who was accused of shooting victims was immediately taken into custody and placed under suicide watch. He pleaded not guilty to the first-degree murder charge.

The latest news:

• Presidential visit:Jill Biden, First Lady and President Joe Biden visited Buffalo Tuesday to visit the victims’ families, first responders, and other community leaders. His remarks are expected at 1:05 p.m. ET, and to denounce the shooting as “terrorism motivated and perverse ideology which tears at the soul our nation,” according to a White House official.

• Suspect visited supermarket the day before attack: Gendron was seen at Tops Friendly Market the Friday before the shooting “doing reconnaissance”, said Joseph Gramaglia, Buffalo Police Commissioner. Gramaglia also said that Gendron was there in March.

• According to the manager, Gendron was told by her to quit Friday. ABC News’ operations manager told ABC News she met Gendron at the market Friday evening, and advised him to get out of the way because he was causing trouble for customers. Shonnell Teague said that Gendron, who was wearing Saturday’s camouflage, sat on the bench in front of the market and left without any argument. Teague’s older brother, Rev. Tim Newkirk told The Buffalo News Gendron was “posing like a beggar,” while Teague said he could not panhandle in that situation.

• Attack would have continued elsewhere had suspect not been stopped: Erie County Sheriff John Garcia stated that the suspect also had “target locations” further down the street. Garcia stated that the police found two more rifles and a shotgun within his vehicle. Garcia credited Garcia’s quick response to help prevent any further attacks.

• Writing seen on suspect’s firearms: SME was able to obtain a photograph of the two guns in the car of the gunman. These firearms were not involved in the shooting. The weapons are marked with writing, which includes the words “White Lives Matter” and what appears to be the victim’s name in a Black suspect’s crime.

• Video shows gunman apologizing, sparing one person’s life: SME captured the shoot from video and obtained the footage. It shows the gunman assaulting a man curled on the ground in front of what appears to be a checkout lanes. He shouts “No” and then the shooter says, “Sorry”, and turns his back and walks away. It is unclear what happens next. The gunman may have apologized, but it is not known why the man was spared.

• Threats made after attackByron Brown, Buffalo mayor, told SME Tuesday that two people were arrested for making threats …read more

Source:: Social Media Explorer