Accused Tops shooter, Payton Gendron, 18, has officially been charged with 26 federal hate crimes, the Justice Department announced on Wednesday.
The charges include 10 counts of hate crime resulting in death; 3 counts of hate crime involving bodily injury and attempt to kill; 10 counts of use of a firearm to commit murder during and in relation to a crime of violence; 3 counts of use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
The federal complaint alleges Gendron’s motive was to “prevent Black people from replacing white people and eliminating the white race, and to inspire others to commit similar attacks.”
Federal authorities also charged Gendron with using a firearm to commit murder.
The complaint also says the charges carry a maximum sentence of life.
Upon conviction, the charges in the complaint carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment or the death penalty. Gendron is currently in state custody pending state criminal charges.
As previously reported, Gendron has also been charged with 25 counts, including domestic terrorism and murder. These charges carry a mandatory sentence of life in prison.
As you may know, the shooter drove nearly three hours to Buffalo, New York, from his home in Conklin, New York with an intent to kill as many Black people as possible.
Gendron also posted documents that outlined his white supremacist views online, revealing this was a deliberate plan to attack that had been established for months.
Roomies, we’ll keep you updated on any other developments.
