In shock, the inhabitants of the city of Buffalo in the State of New York paid tribute, Sunday, May 15, to the ten people killed the day before in a supermarket, including a majority of African-Americans, by a white man in a shooting described by authorities as "a racist hate crime". 

"Some of us are very angry," said Pastor T. Anthony Bronner, during a vigil in front of the Tops supermarket car park where a young man, equipped with an assault weapon and a protective vest bullet, fired on Saturday afternoon, killing ten and injuring three. 

A large crowd gathered at the scene of the tragedy on Sunday, praying, laying wreaths and chanting the word "unity" while another vigil was held at a church where Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said he was "devastated" by this "racist and violent attack".

The shooter identified as Payton Gendron, 18, drove more than 300 km from his residence in Conklin in the south of the state to perpetuate this massacre, even carrying out "a reconnaissance operation" the day before the incident, according to the authorities.  

"How can an 18-year-old boy get a gun?" exclaimed Derryl Long, born in Buffalo and living in the nearby town of Chautauqua, to AFP. 

"I can't understand what was going through that man's head, to drive three hours here, to this (supermarket) Tops because he knew it was a black neighborhood “, continued, Derryl Long, 67 years old. 

"A racist crime motivated by hate"

"This individual came with the goal of killing as many black people as possible," Byron Brown said at a press conference. 

"The evidence we have gathered so far leaves no doubt that this is a racially motivated hate crime and will be prosecuted as such," said Buffalo Police Chief Joseph Gramaglia. 

"Hate crime" in the United States refers to an act directed against a targeted person because of elements of their identity such as race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation or disability.

Considered an aggravated federal offence, it carries harsher sentences.

"We must work together to fight the hatred that remains a stain on the soul of America," Joe Biden hammered in Washington on Sunday.

Payton Gendron had pointed his gun at him, at his neck, before finally surrendering to law enforcement.

Prosecuted for "premeditated murder", he pleaded not guilty during a first appearance before a judge. 

Live broadcast on Twitch 

The young man carried a camera and broadcast his crime live on Twitch even though the platform claimed to have deleted the content “two minutes” after the start of its broadcast.

He also published a 180-page "manifesto" of a racist nature before the facts, according to American media.  

According to the New York Times, citing this "manifesto", the suspect was "inspired" by crimes committed by white supremacists, including the 2019 massacre of 51 worshipers at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. 

The Buffalo News newspaper also revealed that an offensive, racist and taboo word in the United States to designate black people had been painted in white on the barrel of the weapon.

"It was homegrown terrorism, plain and simple," said New York Attorney General Letitia James, who traveled to Buffalo to attend the vigil. 

Denouncing a "racist" act and a "military-style execution", New York State Governor Katy Hochul expressed her anger and underlined the responsibility of social networks.  

"Social media allows this hatred to ferment and spread like a virus," said New York State Governor Katy Hochul. 

 With AFP

The summary of the

France 24 week invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you!

Download the France 24 app

google-play-badge_EN