Report: At least 8 killed in mass shooting at Buffalo, New York, supermarket

BUFFALO, N.Y. — At least eight folks had been killed Saturday afternoon in a shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo, regulation enforcement officers informed The Associated Press.

Details on the variety of further folks shot at the Tops Friendly Market and their situations weren’t instantly accessible. Buffalo police stated earlier Saturday afternoon that the alleged shooter, who was not recognized, was in custody.

The two officers weren’t permitted to talk publicly on the matter and did so on the situation of anonymity, the AP stated.

The gunman entered the supermarket with a rifle and opened hearth, one of many officers stated. Investigators imagine the person might have been live-streaming the shooting and are wanting into whether or not he had posted a manifesto on-line, the official stated.

The official cautioned the investigation was in its preliminary phases and that authorities hadn’t but discerned a transparent motive, however are investigating whether or not the shooting was racially motivated.

The supermarket is in a predominately Black neighborhood, about 3 miles (5 kilometers) north of downtown Buffalo. The surrounding space is primarily residential, with a Family Dollar retailer and hearth station close to the shop.

Braedyn Kephart and Shane Hill, each 20, pulled into the car parking zone simply because the shooter was exiting. They described him as a white male in his late teenagers or early twenties sporting full camo, a black helmet and what seemed to be a rifle.

“He was standing there with the gun to his chin. We were like what the heck is going on? Why does this kid have a gun to his face?” Kephart stated. He dropped to his knees. “He ripped off his helmet, dropped his gun, and was tackled by the police.”

Police closed off the block, lined by spectators, and yellow police taped surrounded the complete car parking zone.

Mayor Byron Brown and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz had been at the scene late Saturday afternoon, gathered in a car parking zone throughout the road from the Tops retailer and anticipated to handle the media.

I’m intently monitoring the shooting at a grocery retailer in Buffalo. We have provided help to native officers. If you’re in Buffalo, please keep away from the world and comply with steerage from regulation enforcement and native officers.

— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) May 14, 2022

Gov. Kathy Hochul tweeted that she was “closely monitoring the shooting at a grocery store in Buffalo,” her hometown. She stated state officers have provided assist to native authorities.

Sen. Chuck Schumer tweeted he was additionally monitoring the shooting, saying, “We are standing with the people of Buffalo.”

I’m actively monitoring the scenario with the grocery retailer shooting in Buffalo. We are standing with the folks of Buffalo. If you’re in Buffalo, please comply with the steerage of native regulation enforcement.

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) May 14, 2022

The Erie County Sheriff’s Office stated on social media that it ordered all accessible personnel to help Buffalo police.

The shooting got here little greater than a year after a March 2021 assault at a King Soopers grocery in Boulder, Colorado, that killed 10 folks. Investigators haven’t launched any details about why they imagine the person charged in that assault focused the supermarket.

This is breaking information. Check for updates.