NEW YORK, Nov 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A white gunman who shot and killed 10 black people in a racially motivated attack in Buffalo, New York, has pleaded guilty to murder and terrorism charges.
The plea means Payton Gendron will be sentenced to life in prison without parole. New York does not have the death penalty.
The 19-year-old killer initially pleaded not guilty to the state charges in June.
“I understand this is a momentous and tremendously emotional event,” Judge Susan Eagan said in court on Monday.
The judge named each victim and asked the gunman if he had killed them because of their race. He showed little emotion as he said “yes” to each charge.
The charges include first-degree murder, murder as a hate crime, and domestic terrorism motivated by hate.
The gunman is also facing multiple federal charges over the May 14 shooting, which could be punished with the death penalty.
The attack happened after Gendron, dressed in military gear, drove more than 320km across the state to a predominantly black neighbourhood in Buffalo, New York’s second-largest city where he entered Tops Friendly Market and began livestreaming the shooting spree from a camera fastened to his head.
All of the 10 people who were killed were black. Three others were wounded.
The victims ranged in age from 32 to 86. They included eight shoppers, a store security guard and a church deacon that drove people to and from the store to do their shopping.
The gunman’s lawyer Brian Parker said after Monday’s court hearing that the surviving victims and relatives of those killed would have the opportunity to address the gunman in court on Feb 15. — NNN-AGENCIES
