BUFFALO, NEW YORK — The Buffalo Police Department said the alleged shooter that claimed 10 lives and injured three others traveled to the city to commit what officials are saying was a hate crime. 

The suspect’s name is Payton S. Gendron, 18, of Conklin, New York, near Binghamton in Broome County. Eleven of his victims were Black and two were white. Erie County District Attorney John Flynn says there is some evidence that the shooting had a ‘racial component.’ Gendron is white.

The Associated Press reports that investigators have interviewed Gendron’s parents who are cooperating. 

Police said he was heavily protected with tactical gear, heavily armed, and had a recording device active for social media.

He was arraigned on a first-degree murder charge which is the highest charge in NYS, a mental evaluation has also been ordered and in five days he will be back in court for a felony hearing on Thursday. Gendron has been remanded without bail. 

Erie County Sheriff John Garcia said Gendron is in […]