China News Agency, New York, November 28th. Peyton Kindron, the mass shooting suspect in Buffalo, New York, was charged with domestic terrorism and 10 counts of first-degree murder in the Erie County Court of the state on the 28th. He pleaded guilty to state charges, for which he faces a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole.
The Associated Press reported that Kindron appeared in court wearing an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs that day.
Erie County Judge Susan Egan read out the names of the victims one by one in court and asked Kindron whether he shot them because of racism and whether he was guilty of related acts.
Kindron answered both "yes" and "guilty".
He also admitted to possessing a weapon and injuring three survivors of the shooting.
On May 14 this year, Kindron opened fire at a supermarket in Buffalo, killing 10 people and injuring three others.
He was holding a semi-automatic rifle, wearing body armor, wearing a helmet and broadcast live online through the camera, and all the victims were of African descent.
After the prosecution investigated and collected evidence, in June this year, a grand jury in New York State indicted Kindron on 25 counts, including 1 count of domestic terrorism motivated by hatred, 10 counts of first-degree murder, and 10 counts of second-degree murder. , 3 counts of attempted murder and 1 count of possession of a weapon.
Under New York state law, when a suspect is found guilty of first-degree murder, correspondingly lesser murder charges for the same act are automatically dismissed.
As a result, Kindron was convicted on a total of 15 counts at the state level, among which, hate-motivated domestic terrorism and 10 counts of first-degree murder will be accompanied by a mandatory life sentence without parole.
Erie County District Attorney Flynn said that Kindron was the first person in New York State history to be convicted of hate-motivated domestic terrorism, and his final sentence is expected to be announced in February next year.
"The New York Times" said that Kindron is also facing multiple charges of hate crimes at the federal level.
He had previously pleaded not guilty to federal charges.
If convicted of some of the charges, he could face the death penalty, the report said.
While there is now a federal moratorium on executions, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland has said he has not ruled out seeking the death penalty in the case.
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